The Honourable Vice President of Sierra Leone Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has encouraged students of Njala University to vote for a politician who understands the debate about the 2023 election.
He explained that the 2023 election debate is about the future of school pupils, noting that the future of Sierra Leone is about the development of Sierra Leone now and the future.
He furthered that the debate is about the bridge between human capital development and the productive sector.
“This is to ensure that every Sierra Leonean child goes to school, graduate from university, and have jobs”. Dr Jalloh maintained, adding that the only politician who understands the debate about the 2023 election is President Julius Maada Bio.
Dr Jalloh said that Sierra Leone is no longer about 1961 but the future. He therefore stated that a presidential candidate should understand the debate on connecting human capital development to the productive sector to facilitate and open opportunity to direct investment that create jobs and technical competence.
Vice President Jalloh lamented that the next five years after the June 24, 2023 election is very vital for the future of Sierra Leone. He therefore called on Sierra Leoneans to entrust power to somebody that understands the past, present, and the future. He added that power should not be given to somebody who understand only the past. He reiterated that Sierra Leone is no longer in 1961.
Vice President Jalloh disclosed that Sierra Leone as a country is today one of the Global champions for education because of the Free Quality Education provided by President Bio.
He noted that there are thousands of children in schools today, thousands graduating who need jobs. He encouraged the students, lecturers and community people to vote for a politician desiring to become president in the June 24 election who understands building the bridge between today and tomorrow.
He emphasised that President Bio is ready and prepared to create the opportunity that provides jobs for students after graduating from universities.
The Honourable Vice President described Njala University as the hydroelectricity of the New Direction Government. He noted that Njala University has fought and voted massively for President Bio, therefore, the university will be at the centre of Bio’s Government in the next five years.
He buttressed that projects started by the Bio’s Administration will be completed in the next five years including road, electricity, and water among others.
The Principal and Vice Chancellor of Njala University Professor Bashiru Koroma referred to Vice President Jalloh as a giant elephant behind the success of President Bio. He therefore called on students, lecturers and community people to support Vice President Jalloh today and “Kunafor” meaning forever.
He recalled the university’s support for Julius Maada Bio in the 2018 Presidential election, adding that the university’s support is always constant for President Bio. He appealed to Vice President Jalloh and President Bio to help transform Njala University, and encouraged the Vice President to find time and pass a night on the campus in order to interact with students, lecturers, and community people.
The Registrar of Njala University, Dr Muneer Jalloh stated that President Bio’s support to Higher Education Institutions in Sierra Leone has brought relative calm to all higher education institutions in the country.
He expressed gratitude to Vice President Jalloh for his frequent visit to Njala University, particularly to Njala Mokende campus. He stressed that the Vice President Visits manifests love for the university, and expressed hope for strong partnership with the university in various development sectors.
The University Registrar explained that through the holistic restructuring, Njala University now has four campuses with thirteen schools/faculties commencing October 2023. He catalogued electricity, road, water, and housing as challenges facing the learning institution.
Dr Brima Gegbe, President, Academic Staff Association (ASA), Njala University disclosed that the open declaration made by ASA-NU during the 2018 presidential election to support President Bio then in opposition was no mistake.
He opined that the Association made the declaration because of the potential they saw in Maada Bio and Juldeh Jalloh then to deliver the manifesto to the nation, noting that President Bio and Vice President Jalloh have indeed delivered their manifest promises.
Dr Gegbe highlighted some of the achievements of the Bio’s Administration including women empowerment and inclusion in governance, inclusive governance and national cohesion, prudent fiscal management of State resources, and provision of 75% increment of staff salaries to public tertiary institutions among the many.
He assured Vice President Jalloh for the re-election of second term mandate of President Bio and the Honourable Vice President. He described the Association’s determination to re-elect President Bio as COON-FAYA-COON from an Islamic point of view.
Lamin Konateh-Student Union President, Njala University stated that the visit of Vice President Jalloh to Mokende Campus is a testament of Government commitment to education and youth empowerment, and a demonstration of relevance of the university in the national landscape.
He expressed his deepest gratitude to the Honourable Vice President for his unwavering support to educational reforms, access to quality education, encouragement of intellectual pursuit that have uplifted countless lives including students of Njala University.
President Konateh pledged on behalf of colleagues to continue striving for academic excellence, cultivate a vibrant culture of intellectual curiosity, and embracing the values of integrity.
Retired Captain Sylvester Boima who doubles as the nominated Member of Parliament candidate for Constituency 98 assured the Vice President that his Constituency is one of the safest in Moyamba district.
He promised to deliver 95% of the Constituency’s votes to President Bio. He informed the Honourable Vice President about the reconciliation process undertaken to reconcile all aspirants who contested for symbols for councillors and Members of Parliament in the Constituency, noting that there is no winner or loser in their party.