By Ibrahim Socialist Thullah

Recognizing the pivotal role of education in global sustainable development, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, unveiled a significant initiative during the closing session of the extraordinary meeting in Freetown. He disclosed a fund of Ten Billion Leones five years dedicated to supporting tertiary students in Sierra Leone across various courses. He unveiled the Scheme while addressing University students from FCB, IPAM and Milton Margai Technical University during the last day of the Ecowas Seminar in Freetown.

Highlighting the continuity of this effort, Speaker Tunis mentioned that sixty-seven university students have already benefited through the One Love Salone Foundation.

He emphasized their commitment to expanding the program, aiming to grant scholarships to one hundred students this year and targeting one hundred and fifty students in the coming year.

The initiative, conceived by Speaker Tunis and his wife, Mrs. Nabeela Ferida Tunis, is a testament to their dedication to giving back to society by providing education opportunities for the country’s youth.

In addition to scholarships, the project includes providing laptops to second-year students, alleviating the challenges of rushed assignments and facilitating convenient access to learning materials. Two Billion Leones have already been allocated to support this aspect of the project for 2023/2024 academic year.

Acknowledging the positive strides made by female students, Speaker Tunis expressed the intention to encourage more girls to benefit from the scheme, recognizing their current outperformance compared to male counterparts.

The overarching goal, as Speaker Tunis concluded, aligns with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision to enhance human capital investment through education. The project aims to elevate the country’s literacy rate, positioning Sierra Leone competitively on the global stage.