Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. President Julius Maada Bio is expected to deliver the keynote address at the first regional summit of the Young Political Leadership School (YPLS) Africa which kicks off here today in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The YPLS Africa is a flagship program of NAYMOTE, partners for Democratic Development– a leading civil society institution working to advance the principles of democracy, rule of law and good governance across Africa.
The summit is held under the theme, “Advancing Electoral Integrity for Political Accountability and Leadership in the Mano River Union region”. It is assembling over 75 young leaders in politics and civil society from Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the Gambia, for the purpose of learning, sharing, collaborating, growing their networks, and dialoguing on mitigating electoral violence, fostering electoral integrity and political accountability for national development, peace, and security across the region.
NAYMOTE’s Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo has lauded President Bio and other high profile guests including Ambassador Medina Wesseh, Secretary-General of the Mano River Union and the Honorable Lisa Chesney, the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, ahead of the summit, the delegates have been engaging in several activities including visitations to the historic Fourah Bay College, the oldest college in West Africa, the Sierra Leonean Parliament and the Peace Museum.
At Fourah Bay College, an official of the student government, Hassan Hindolo Senesis led the team on a guided tour of the institution. Mr. Senesis said the college, with its 195 years history, has contributed immensely to educating people from across the continent. From a college, he said the institution has grown over the years and now has developed into the University of Sierra Leone where it is now offering undergraduate and post graduate degrees including PhDs.
At the Sierra Leonean Parliament, the Director of Proceedings and Public Relations, Sheik Turay lectured the delegates on Sierra Leone’s history and democracy and the importance of the Parliament in upholding the country’s democracy since independence in 1961.
The team, lead by NAYMOTE’s Coordinator Alphia Faith Kemokia, thanked Mr. Turay for the warm reception and insightful lecture, adding that it has already indicated that the summit would be successful.
At the Peace Museum, the delegates were also given a guided tour by the curators of the Museum following an insightful conversation led by Mr. Patrick Fatoma, the Museum’s head of Public Outreach. Mr. Fatomah drilled the YPLS Africa’s alumni on the history of the Special Court of Sierra Leone (SCSL) and its roles in bringing peace to Sierra Leone ensuring justice is served following the devastating civil war.
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