He made the statement at the official launch of the Solade Adams Public Lecture Series and commissioning of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology Library and Science Laboratory at the college’s Great Hall, Goderich campus in Freetown.
In his keynote address, the Chief Minister went on to state that the Solade Adams Public Lecture Series is about change and transformation of the country and Africa and recalled that he came home to help the SLPP government of President Julius Maada Bio to win the democratic elections last year.
According to Professor David Francis, he is coordinating 25 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and that the nature of politics in Sierra Leone has destroyed the country irrespective of its rich natural resources, a situation he attributed to all citizens and lamented the habit of looting with impunity that has resulted to widespread poverty in the country and general instability that led to the civil war.
He further said that he would give public lectures to other universities in the country underscoring that we all have the opportunity to transform Sierra Leone and Africa reiterating that the administration of the state would no longer be business as usual highlighting that the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio is about efficient management of the country’s natural resources for the benefit of the people.
The Chief Minister continued to say that other priorities of government are healthcare, education, and infrastructure, citing that the free quality education that government has funded without donor support in spite of the fact that it inherited a near bankrupt state due to bad governance; Le50 billion has been allocated to the free quality education programme.
He used the opportunity to affirm that the launch of the Commissions of Inquiry on Tuesday 29th January 2019 is for democratic accountability and to address impunity.
He revealed that for the past eight months government has paid salaries on time without overdrafts, recruited 300 female soldiers, opened 48 hospitals, distributed 500 ambulances, disbursed Le18 billion to the Freetown City Council, introduced the monthly cleaning exercise and assured that the college would be upgraded to a university status as the Ministers of Higher and Technical Education and Basic Education respectively have started the process asserting that the college has vast land for its transformation into an ultra-modern institution.
Earlier, the Vice Principal of the college, Dr. M.A. Jalloh, introduced the chairman of the ceremony, Dr. Victor Massaquoi who asserted that the college is moving in the right direction, commended staff and students for the progress made in six months, recalled that the launch is the outcome of the assessment of the college in June last year, that the Solada Adams Lecture Series would help students improve their English and understand complex issues of the day, that the laboratory would help them understand different scientific formulas emphasizing that government puts premium on education.
The daughter of the late Solade Adams said her father was a depository of knowledge, a rousing orator, outstanding father who mentored many, had great integrity, pursued excellence and believed in sound quality education to make the world a better place.
She added that her late father was a great humanitarian, modest man and that the family is proud of the honor.
The acting Principal, Dr. Philip John Kanu asserted that this is the first time in the history of the college to have high ranking government Ministers and other officials at the same time and acclaimed the President for his appointment for which he is very grateful.
He disclosed that he has renovated the Great Hall where great people meet, that the day is a turning point in the history of the college beginning with the massive transformation taking place in the college, recalled that the college was renowned for its quality products but lamented the huge liabilities he inherited and other challenges.
Dr. Philip John Kanu said massive rehabilitation is currently ongoing in the three campuses of the college stressing that the college is moving in the right direction to make students comfortable.
A conducted tour of the renovated library, science laboratory, hostels, and other facilities climaxed the event.
