Alhaji Chief Sam Sumana, the former Vice President of Sierra Leone, who was also a Global Peace Ambassador, Thursday 19th January 2025, served as Guest of Honour on a clash of Orators Debate, delivering a public lecture on the power of unity, cultivating national cohesion for a strong Sierra Leone.
The program, which was organized by the Students’ Representative Council in partnership with the UNIMAK Debating Council, attracted students from UNIMAK and other tertiary institutions in Makeni City.
In his opening address, the Deputy Registrar of UNIMAK commended former President Ernest Bai Koroma and his Vice President, Chief Sam Sumana, for their roles and contributions towards the establishment of the University in Makeni.
In his address as Keynote speaker and Guest of Honour, Chief Sam Sumana thanked the students and Administration of UNIMAK for according him the opportunity to talk on such important topics that gear towards the unity of this country.
He also congratulated the Debaters for their various contributions, stating the University has the breeds to lead this country in the future.
The former Vice President reiterated that the only way a country can move forward is to put aside both tribalism and regionalism.
He told the gathering that when he was Vice President, some UN officials came to his office and asked how they were able to achieve the peace and national unity in the country; and his response was they as a Government were able to achieve such through the TRC report by putting aside the odds that brought about the ugly civil war in the country.
He called on all and sundry to put aside tribalism and nepotism that have excelled so far in our country, saying ‘‘you don’t need to be identified by your tribe or region before giving you a job or responsibility, but as a Sierra Leonean that can contribute to the socio -economic development of the country.
The Global Peace Ambassador admonished all to commence the unity process of the country, adding that in order to achieve such, ‘we have to put ourselves together as one family to make sure peace is sustained in our country.’
He said although we have eighteen ethnic groups in this country, ‘we are at a cross road,’ and he called on all to emulate the good example of Rwanda that has gone through tribal conflict during which thousands lost their lives in the process; but today, they put aside tribal and regionalism behind them and are now moving forward as one Rwanda.
He said they as politicians have the responsibility to cultivate national cohesion to enhance peace and unity in the country.
The Presentation of an award by the Students’ Representative Council and Debating Council of UNIMAK to the former Vice President Chief Sam Sumana for his valuable strides in national cohesion and unity in the country and as Global Peace Ambassador of Sierra Leone; and the distribution of certificates to the debaters by Chief Sam Sumana formed high point of the ceremony.
