Beaming faces, singing and dancing in the Village of Yoyema, Moyamba District heralded yet another milestone in the drive by Universal Access Development Fund (UADF) to bring telecommunication to rural areas and keep the people connected to other parts of the country, and the wider world.
Saturday 29th June 2024, marked the grand commissioning of a Telecom Tower built by funds from UADF in Yoyema which is some two miles from the district headquarter town of Moyamba.
The well-attended event attracted senior UADF officials, representatives of Government and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), traditional rulers and their subjects, and Members of Parliament.
Before this, the people of the well- populated village of Yoyeima would have to find high locations like hills in search of a network when they want to communicate with their mobile phones.
Such a scenario will now be a thing of the past, with the provision of the new solar-powered telecom Tower that the country’s MNOs will use to mount their devices so that the local people will get better mobile phone communication.
Also commissioned that day, was a concrete Booth built by UADF that is to serve as a centre for charging of phones and purchasing of Top-up credit.
The Chief Executive Officer of UADF, Madam Marie Momoh handed over cash to the tune of 5,000 Leones as start-up support for the booth.
Such was the desire of the people that day to savour the new telecom facility that they bought 90 percent of the mobile phones that were being sold by Orange-one of the MNOs, according to Madam Momoh.
Also UADF presented 100 smart phones to the President of the National Farmers Federation of Sierra Leone, Madam Yatta Samai, for onward distribution to selected members of the federation across the country. The phones are to aid them in their communication with agricultural experts so they would be able to make informed decisions regarding their farming activities.
Additionally, UADF handed over 40 feature phones and 25 smart phones to Kayamba Chiefdom Paramount Chief Foday Momoh Gulama to be used by essential community workers such as teachers, health personnel and local leaders in the community.
Communication, Innovation and Technology Minister, Salima M. Bah as Keynote Speaker told the gathering it’s imperative that farmers in rural areas have improved telecom networks to enhance their farming methods and at the same time to be able to access bigger markets.
She pointed out that internet expansion is at the heart of President Julius Maada Bio’s transformative and development vision.
She said Parliament and her ministry will be holding MNOs accountable over the quality and standard of their services to their consumers.
Ms. Bah entreated the people to take full ownership of the UADF tower, and other facilities owned by MNOs by ensuring their safety against theft or vandalism.
She assured of her ministry’s continued support to the telecom sector.
The minister expressed delight at the fact that residents of Yoyema were able to make 500 phone calls during the first test run of the facility, saying it was an amazing day for the communication sector.
UADF boss Madam Momoh in her address spoke of the government’s commitment to increase internet penetration by 5 percent by the end of 2024.
She said reaching out to rural communities was to enable the people to fully participate in this digital age despite their geographical location, reasserting that internet access is a lifeline for community empowerment.
She said UADF is committed to bridging the digital divide in the country.
She acknowledged the support of the various partners including the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Technology, Parliament, Zoodlabs, and the contractors towards the successful implementation of the project. Madam Momoh also thanked the community people for embracing the project.
Paramount Chief Gulama on behalf of the people of Yoyema and the entire Kayamba Chiefdom expressed gratitude to the government and UADF for the telecom project.
Up to date, 47,000 people in 14 rural communities, 30 Schools and 10 Community Health Centres across Sierra Leone have now benefitted from UADF’s rural connectivity initiative. Apart from Yoyema, the communities of Dodo Kortuma- Kailahun,Foenga Mandu-Kono and Benduche- Bonthe have also benefited from the solar telecom towers built by UADF.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (03/07/24)
