By Politico Staff Writer
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio last week presented a cheque for over Le 9 billion as part of funding for the newly established Skills Development Fund. The fund, according to the presidency, will initially benefit over 1,660 citizens in the two eastern districts of Kenema and Kailahun.
The initiative, according to officials, is designed to support middle-level manpower through technical education.
It was launched during the president’s visit to Kailahun last week, November 23.
At the event, Paramount Chief of Njaluahun Chiefdom, James Sheriff Coker-Jajua, expressed joy for receiving the President and for the launch of the initiative in his chiefdom.
"I am humbled to welcome you all to Njaluahun Chiefdom and to tell you that the Free Quality Education has really helped the poor people of this country," PC Coker-Jajua stated.
Member of Parliament for Constituency 008, Hon. Wuyata Bernadette Songa, thanked the President for the opportunity given to her people to host the launch for the Skills Development Fund in Njaluahun Chiefdom. She noted that such an initiative would go a long way to strengthen and deepen the foundation of the Free Quality Education. She, therefore, encouraged the people of the district, particularly the youths, to take good care of the opportunity.
Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education, Professor Aiah Gbakima, disclosed that the project was being implemented in partnership with the World Bank, noting that it would cater for those students who couldn't get requirements to enter universities and colleges.
According to Prof. Gbakima, the initiative involved the establishment of skills training centres like carpentry, tailoring, mechanics and others, with the goal of serving about 8,000 beneficiaries by 2023.
"This exercise went through extended inter-agency partnerships. I thank all partners, including the World Bank," he said.
Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, told the gathering that it was a government of Sierra Leone owned project, and that the government partnered with the World Bank to implement the first phase in the east of the country.
"The World Bank has seen the political will of this administration to make education accessible to everyone in the country. And this skills development initiative is in line with the 2018 manifesto of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party government," he stated.
Minister Saffa also noted that the Skills Development Fund had over Le120 billion that would span through 2024, adding that the more funding the programme gets the more the government would extend the implementation to other districts.
President Bio, for his part, said that he was happy to be in Njaluahun, particularly in Segbwema, where the people were always very excited to welcome him as one of their own.
"My visit here today is to launch the Skills Development Fund and to show that my government values education. Education should be treated seriously because it is the only means to lasting development," he said.
He continued by saying that the Fund would incorporate those who could not make it to universities and colleges, thereby making them very useful for nation-building. He admonished the youths of the district to take their education seriously, noting that he believed that education was a universal key that would unlock every door of opportunity.
"Education is good for nation-building and for personal development. Therefore, I urge you all to make every effort to support this programme. The future ahead of us is very challenging and it is only education that will prepare us all for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said, shortly before officially launching the programme.
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