The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba, has said at a China Night farewell party for Chinese Government Scholarship recipients at the Bintumani Hotel conference hall, that the allocation of this year’s scholarships, coincides with President Bio’s ‘New Direction’ flagship agenda on Education.

Dr. Alie Kabba in his remarks stated, that the President’s key priority is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Sierra Leoneans in line with Goal 4 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so that Sierra Leone will once again be on the path of social, political and economic recovery that has been affected by long degradation of education in the country. Education is key to human resource development, he added. The Foreign Minister admonished the 45 Chinese Government Scholarship recipients that they are not going to China on cocktail, rather they are going as ambassadors of the country to acquire knowledge for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone. ‘Ensure you put on your best performances during your academic pursuit and carry yourself in such a manner that will continue to raise our country’s flag high during your stay in the People’s Republic of China’, Dr. Alie Kabba added. On behalf of His Excellency, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Government and people of Sierra Leone, Dr. Alie Kabba expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to the government and the People’s Republic of China for their continued support in diverse ways to the development of Sierra Leone. ‘I want to once more thank the government of the People’s Republic of China for the scholarships that have offered to our deserving students’, Dr. Kabba concluded.

The Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone, His Excellency, Wu Peng whilst offering his warmest congratulations to all the beneficiaries underpinned their full support to the New Direction’s priority in education and pledged to continue to contribute to its success. Ambassador Wu Peng further stated that China is helping Sierra Leone build schools and considering to donate portable classrooms so as to help students and teachers in remote areas. ‘ The key to sound relations between states lies in the affinity between their peoples, and you will contribute to China-Sierra Leone relations by promoting people to people and cultural exchanges’, Ambassador Wu Peng concluded.

Remarks by the President of Sino-Sierra Leone Alumni Association, Dr. Konjoh and the Deputy Ambassador Designate to the Peoples Republic of China, Mr. Saffa Woya Rogers formed part of the ceremony. The vote of thanks was delivered by Musa Kargbo.