By: Aaron Bundu Lahai-Head of Media & Public Relations
The Sierra Leone Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh on Monday 12th June, 2023 launched the Bunumbu Teachers College now known as Eastern Technical University ETU) construction project in Bunumbu Town, Kpeje West Chiefdom, Kailahun District. The Honourable Vice President told the audience that the launching ceremony was meant to turn the sod for the construction and renovation of sixty-one buildings for the ETU-Bunumbu Campus, stressing that the project when completed will change the lives of Bunumbu indigenes and Kailahun District in general.
He expressed gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio for his firm commitment to promote education, and his outstanding accomplishments in transforming the educational sector. He therefore noted that turning the sod was a vivid demonstration of President Bio’s commitment to make education his first priority to develop Sierra Leone.
Vice President Jalloh informed the people about President Bio’s 2018 manifesto promised to invest in human capital development to make Sierra Leone a prosperous country, adding that the key pillar to human capital development is education through the Free Quality Education (FQE). He explained about President Bio’s promised to position the education sector to become the engine to transform Sierra Leone as a prosperous country.
The Honourable Vice President highlighted tangibles evidences on the investment in the education sector by President Bio including the enrolment of 2.7 million pupils in primary and secondary schools, increase enrolment in higher learning institutions and quality teaching among others. He added that President Bio has paid tuition fees for pupils, provided teaching and learning materials, provided school buses, introduced school feeding programmes, and recruited and provided pin codes to teachers who are now receiving salaries over the past five years.
He opined that President Bio position the basic, technical and higher learning to ensure the Free Quality Education succeeds. Dr Jalloh noted that the President thought it wise to establish new universities such as the transformation of the Eastern Polytechnic to Eastern Technical University (ETU), and recently the Ahmed Tejan Kabbah University in northwest regional headquarter city of Portloko. He stated that President Bio is investing in technical and higher education because the President believes in the future of children.
The Minister of Higher and Technical Education Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie expressed appreciation to President Bio and his government for their unwavering support to education. He encouraged everyone to support President Bio.
John Juana, Registrar of the Eastern Technical University explained that Bunumbu Teachers College was devastated during the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel war that led to the relocation of the college to Kenema. The college later merged with a technical institute in Kenema to form the Eastern Polytechnic, with the goal of providing education to pupils leaving schools in the eastern region. He concluded that Eastern Technical University stands as a testament to President Bio’s strong belief in education.
In Shegbwema, Bunumbu, Daru, Pendembu, Kailahun Town, and Konta Line in Kailahun and Portloko Districts, the Honourable Vice President explained to the people about the implementation of President Bio’s 2018 manifesto promises in the areas of education, new airport, health, electricity, road, water among others. He lamented on the reduction of maternal mortality rate to low level in Sierra Leone, adding that President Bio will do more to reduce maternal and infant mortality to zero level if massively voted for in the June 24, 2023 general elections.
Vice President Jalloh encouraged supporters of President Bio to ensure there is no run-off in the June 24 elections. He also encouraged his party supporters to turn out in numbers on polling day as was demonstrated during the voter registration exercise to vote massively for President Bio. He noted that massive voter turnout is a clear message of thanks and appreciation to President Bio for the Free Quality Education, infrastructure like road and bridges, and electricity among other development activities.
Paramount James Sheriff Coker-Jajua VI of Njaluahun Chiefdom, Kailahun District expressed his delight for the unity among his people. He delivered the unanimous decision taken by his people to support President Bio for progressive development in the country. He explained that the reason for taking such unanimous decision by his people is because of the fulfilment of President Bio’s 2018 manifesto promises, he described the Free Quality Education as a tangible promise that is not fake. He also lauded President Bio for constructing new International Airport at Lungi that was not in his 2018 campaign manifesto.
