By: Problyn J. Alpha
An S.S.S. three commerce pupil of Ansarul Islamic Boys Secondary School in Koidu City, Kono District Foday Sesay has won the third edition of the Regional Secondary School schools Quiz competition Organized by Rokel Commercial Bank on the Theme “ Upscalling Financial inclusion and financial literacy held at the Sessie Gbenda Hall Bona Street in Koidu City. The two participating schools were Ansarul Islamic Boys Secondary School and Koidu Secondary School or KSS.
In his welcome address, before the competition proper the Manager Rokel Commercial Bank Kono Branch Daniel Moseray foremost asked the participating pupils and their colleagues present to exchange greetings by shaking each other’s hands as a way of establishing friendship. He said two years ago the District did well in similar competition and therefore wish the two participating schools good luck as nobody was going to lose the competition.
According to him, the purpose of organizing the competition is to compliment the clarion call of President Bio’s human capital development initiative coupled with the promotion of financial inclusion as eighty percent (80%) of Sierra Leoneans lack the culture of banking.
He said most of the questions for the competition were financially related and therefore implored all to have the habit of banking as it is safe and secured.
Mr. Morseray thanked all present for attending the program. He cautioned the contestants to be peaceful as the competition is not a do or die encounter.
Max Fallah Sungu is the Deputy Director Teaching Service Commission Kono District when making a statement he foremost thanked Rokel Commercial Bank for organizing such an educative program and implored the management of the Bank to do more.
According to him the Theme for the Regional Secondary Schools Quiz competition upscaling financial inclusion and financial Literacy is a marketing strategy to expand on the knowledge of banking. He therefore pledged his institutions unflinching support for the initiative of engaging the pupils. On his part, the Kono District Chairman Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) Fengai Morquee maintained that teachers are the best Friends of Rokel Commercial Bank owing to the loan facilities teachers do enjoy from the operations of the Bank.
He thanked the management of the Bank for positively impacting the lives of pupils over the years through the competitions year in year out.
He said the pupils were not only representing their schools ,parents and Kono District but them as teachers because one can only give what he or she has and thus pleaded with the participating pupils to comport themselves in the best possible way.
Meanwhile, the Chief administrator of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council Francis M. Tevah and the Manager Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Kono Branch Joseph Freeman underscored the initiative of organizing the competition as it will in no doubt complement the clarion call of President Bio’s Human Capital Development initiative.
Mr. Freeman pointed out that the theme for the competition was well designed to change the recent survey that people are not banking. He thanked the management of Rokel Commercial Bank for such laudable competition. Similar competitions were also organized in Pujehun, Kabala and Bonthe Districts respectively.
The winner in Kono district is expected to contest with the other winners in Freetown. Certificates of participation and prices were awarded to the participating pupils.