The event was initiated by the Commonwealth University and London Graduate School Consortium to serve as a forum to inspire leaders exchange ideas and opinions about practical leadership challenges and also to enable leaders to benchmark good practices.

Dr Conteh was among many other distinguished personalities from different parts of the world that were invited to receive awards for their outstanding Contributions to the development of their various countries.

In his citation, the University Chancellor, Professor Michael Addison pronounced Dr Kallay Musa Conteh as a seasoned administrator who has fully engaged in harnessing the Sierra Leonean Diaspora community towards national development.

Speaking to this writer, the Director of Diaspora Engagement Affairs said: “I dedicate this award to His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, my family members, my supervising Ministry of Political and Public Affairs, my team members in the Directorate of Diaspora Engagement Affairs and to all my fellow Sierra Leoneans at home and in the Diaspora Constituency for reposing confidence in me to serve as Director of Diaspora Engagement Affairs , a position that has exposed me to the world and higher institutions of learning”

Meanwhile Dr Conteh has received several other meritorious awards for his contribution to national development from both local and Diaspora organizations including the Sierra Leone Central Union (SLCU) in the Netherlands.