By Septimus Senessie in Kono.
Minister of Education has officially handed over to contractors the construction of a technical and vocational institute in Kono District, eastern Sierra Leone. The institute will be located close to the Ninth Infantry Battalion at Simbakoro in Gbense Chiefdom.
Dr. Minkailu Bah said that at the completion of the Institute “advanced skills training facilities will be made available for thousands of young people not only in the eastern province but also throughout the country and even beyond."
He said similar institutes were going to be constructed simultaneously in Kambia, Pujehun and Tonkolili Districts, adding that the project was in fulfilment of President Koroma's earlier commitment that “he will lay his life for the youths of this country.”
The minister told the youths present at the launch to take maximum advantage of the opportunity, adding that “the president will only lay his life for youths who are serious and determine to carry their own cross.”
He thanked the paramount chief of Gbense Chiefdom, Sahr Fengai Kaimachende and his people for donating a 30-acre land for the construction of the institute.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Finda Diana Konomayi-Kabba thanked the government for selecting Kono District as one of the four beneficiaries in the country.
She noted that she would frown at anybody in the district that would want to derail the work of the contractors for their personal or selfish gains. She encouraged women to take the front seat so that they too could challenge their male counterparts in accessing skills-training after the completion of the institute.
Mayor of Koidu, Saa Emerson Lamina said that after its completion, the project would serve as “a roadmap to the government’s Agenda For Prosperity for the youth in the district and beyond.” He encouraged his colleague youths to adopt the project as theirs.
Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs in Kono District, PC Paul Gabba Saquee said the establishment of such an institute in the district with high a record of illiterate and unemployed youths was welcoming. “The economic success of any country is not defined by the number of PhD and Masters Degree holders, but by the middle man power resources the country has,” he said.
He said he was confident the institute would not turn into a "white elephant structure" after its completion like the one at Dorma Community which was completed nearly seven years ago but not used for the purpose it was constructed for.
PC Saquee said “despite the epileptic status of the township road and the electricity projects which started some five years ago in the district without completion,” the Kono people should thank President Koroma for even thinking about them in his developmental plans.
The project will be constructed with funds from the Islamic Development Bank.
(C) Politico 29/04/14
