On Wednesday 7th April 2021 the Chief Executive Officer of Sewa Energy Resources SL Limited-SERL, Mr. Kofi Macauley and his team officially handed over 20,000 Solar Lamps worth Le 4 billion to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. This gesture is inspired by the desire to support achieving the Flagship Free Quality Basic and Senior Secondary Education Programme of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, defined under Policy Cluster 1 on Human Capital Development of the ongoing 2019 – 2023 Medium Term National Development Plan.
At the handing over ceremony to stakeholders in the educational sector held at the Ministry at New England, Mr. Macauley said supporting deprived school children in rural communities through access to energy will complement government’s that goes beyond providing free education, but improving learning outcome, promote literacy, hence achieving the notion of quality education. Mr. Macauley underpinned that the solar lamps increase study time for kids in rural areas with no access to electricity. He further explained the adaptable make-up of the distributed Solar Lamps, which he said are, lightweight, waterproof, and user-friendly. Mr. Macauley called on stakeholders present at the handing over ceremony to take ownership of the gesture from Sewa Energy Resources by ensuring fairer distribution of the donated Solar Lamps to children in deprived communities across the country. He added that if properly handled, donated Solar Lamps could last for ten years. While congratulating the Honorable Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Hon. Dr. David Moinina Sengeh) and his team for demonstrated hard-work on delivering on the Free Quality Education Initiative by providing learning equipment across the country, Mr. Macauley pledged continued support to the Ministry in achieving this laudable venture, which aim at securing the human capital potential of Sierra Leone. He reiterated saying that, “this donation is just the start to a long-term partnership with the Ministry in providing and securing that clean and affordable energy is accessible to schools in deprived communities across the country”. Mr. Macauley opined that “as an indigenous company, supporting development action geared towards achieving long term goals within the country is a key mandate of Sewa Energy Resources SL Limited in delivering on the company’s cooperate social responsibilities. To this end, over the years, the Company has spent billions of Leones in providing livelihood supports to several communities in the country especially in communities found within project operational areas”. Mr. Macauley further stated that Sewa Energy in the spirit of wanting to demonstrate commitment to meeting energy targets in the country, plans are underway to commission the Betmai Hydroelectric Project with the aim to complete and have it operational in2023.
SERL’s official handing-over of the Solar Lamps to Government Representatives.
Spearheaded by SERL and its development partners, this energy project will generate 27 MW tapping on the Pampana River in Tonkolili district. Once implemented, the Betmai Hydroelectric facility will contribute to the overall economic development of the country by providing power to over 700,000 homes in local and neighboring communities. This energy investment project will not only help uplift local communities, including women, children, low-income populations, and underrepresented groups by providing reliable power to schools, hospitals, businesses, and households but will also have a positive impact on the environment and boost energy generation and distribution in the country.
Receiving the Solar Lamps on behalf of the Minister, Mr. Mohamed Sillah Sesay, Director, School Quality Assurance Management and Resources thanked Sewa Energy Resources SL Limited for the donation, saying that the Lamps would indeed contribute greatly towards increasing study time for pupils. He noted that the “Government of the current administration has prioritized education as the best way to invest in the future, and that donated Solar Lamps will directly support government’s towards achieving the Flagship Free Quality Basic and Senior Secondary Education Programme of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio. Mr. Sesay admonished stakeholders in the educational sector to effectively monitor the distribution of donated Solar Lamps to underprivileged children in deprived community thereby ensuring they are utilized for intended purpose. He applauded SERL for their forward-looking development and patriotic intervention in efforts to deliver quality education, and encouraged SERL to build on established partnership with the Ministry.
SERL’s renewable energy platform in addition to ongoing hydroelectric project in Tonkolili
Engineer Benjamin Kamara, Chief Director of Energy at the Ministry of Energy commended Sewa Energy Resources SL Limited for their intervention and commitment to providing and ensuring energy security in the country. He mentioned that the SERL is a valued partner of the Ministry of Energy, especially in the renewable energy sector. He added that donated Solar Lamps would facilitate immediate energy access especially for children in rural deprived communities, which is consistent with the vision of the Minister of Energy (Hon. Alhaji Kanja I. Sesay) to expand the supply of energy across the country.
Closing the donation ceremony, Deputy Directors of Education at districts level received quotas of the Solar Lamps for distribution to school going children in their respective districts.
Warm reception of Deputy District Directors who are now mandated to distribute the Solar Lamps to sixth grade pupils across the country in preparation for their NPSE exams
