By Mackie M. Jalloh
African Global Logistics (AGL) Sierra Leone has donated school materials worth Le 444,825 to 1,400 schoolchildren in three communities—Moa Wharf, Sea Side, and Matheagba Village in Karene District—as part of its ongoing commitment to education and community development.
The donation ceremony took place on Thursday, 5th February 2025, at the FTL Conference Hall, bringing together community leaders, education stakeholders, and senior management of AGL and Freetown Terminal Limited (FTL).
The donated items included school bags, 200-page notebooks, 80-page exercise books, erasers, geometry sets, ledger books, Oxford dictionaries, pencils, blue and black pens, rulers, and scientific calculators. The materials are expected to significantly ease the financial burden on parents while improving learning conditions for pupils in the beneficiary communities.
Speaking at the event, AGL Sub-Regional Manager, Captain Fabjanko Kokan, thanked all stakeholders for attending and reaffirmed AGL’s belief that education remains the foundation of national development. He noted that the donation was intended to support 1,400 pupils in Freetown and other parts of Sierra Leone.
“Education is the key to success, not only in Sierra Leone but across the world,” Captain Kokan said. “Educating children is the most powerful tool for change in any nation. As AGL, operating in 45 African countries with over 25,000 employees, we believe in leading by example. We are here to support families, children, and to give back to the communities we operate in.”
He emphasized that investing in children’s education ensures a better future and long-term national progress.
The General Manager of Freetown Terminal Limited, Mr. Maroun Abi-Aad, echoed similar sentiments, describing education as the greatest gift that can be offered to children. He said AGL’s investment in education is an investment in future leaders and reaffirmed that the initiative is part of a sustained corporate social responsibility effort.
Also speaking, AGL Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Yvonne Elliott, said the company recognizes the importance of investing in communities as a responsible corporate institution. She described the donation as a symbol of AGL’s continued commitment to social development and urged beneficiaries to make responsible use of the materials.
“This investment of over Le 440,000 is not just support—it is a responsibility,” she said. “We hope that in the years ahead, we will hear testimonies from beneficiaries who will proudly say they succeeded because of AGL’s support.”
Representing the beneficiary communities, Mr. Abu Bakarr Barrie, Chairman of the Moa Wharf Community, expressed profound appreciation to AGL for what he described as a life-changing initiative. He noted that many beneficiaries of previous AGL support programmes have completed school and are now successful graduates.
He assured the company that the communities would protect AGL’s investments and maintain peace, especially given their proximity to the port facilities.
The donation once again highlights AGL’s role in supporting education, easing economic hardship for families, and strengthening community relations through sustainable corporate social responsibility.
