By Abass Jalloh
As Milton Margai becomes a Technical University, Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, has promised to support the institution with 50 scholarships and 20 beds for the students.
Mrs Bio made this disclosure during a presentation at the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET), moment before it was declared a technical university by President Julius Maada Bio at the transformation ceremony on the 6th of December this year.
“Education is the only solution to a country’s development. Education is the only way for a country to see light and continue through that light in any part of the world. When you have an educated nation, you definitely have a developmental nation,” she said, adding: “If we talk about food safety, best hospital, agriculture, human capital development, all of those are possible when you have an educated nation,” she said.
The first lady explained that 25 of the 50 scholarships would be for both male and female, but the remaining 25 would be “strictly for women” within Constituency 110.
She emphasised that women should take this opportunity to enrol at the MMCET College to learn more skills when it comes to creativity, especially for those who may want to learn family care.
“We need women who know how to do our nails and make ups. Some people don’t know how to do pedicure and manicure. So from here now, they would come and learn how to do those things and end up having a certificate,” she said.
Mrs. Bio further said that at the MMCET, people would come to learn several skills from start and that they do not need a special certificate before enrolment. She said that the area of driving, fishery, performing arts, among other things, need more attention and that is why there is a certificate programme for that.
She further added that she had first noticed that the MMCET College had only one health facility which serves the university and the community. She said that led her to inform President Bio for support and was instructed to go ahead.
“The instruction that you gave me, I want you [President Bio] to know that I have gone ahead with it. We have brought 20 brand new beds for the hospital and the community, so the community would have their own. I also went to Lakka for theirs. Your Excellency, you would be surprised that the Lakka hospital has only one bed,” she said.
Mrs. Bio further said that she was once a student of the MMCET and that she was going to support them in the best way she could for the development of the college when it comes to creativity, among other things.
“Last year, I became a student of the Milton Margai. Last year, I signed publicly that I would not be only a student of this school but also contribute the little idea that I have when it comes to performing arts, and I would be here to be lecturing,” she said.
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