By Feima Sesay.
Orange Mobile Network, the biggest network company in the country, has on Tuesday 8 February 2022 signed 1 billion Leones sponsorship with four football clubs in the country. The signing of the MOU took place at a press conference held at their Hill Station office in Freetown.
The Football clubs were FC Kallon, FC Johansen, Diamond Star FC and Wusum Stars. The package for this sponsorship to each of the four football clubs includes, one billion Leones, Two speed box and 100GB monthly that will run for a period of three years.
The Chief Marketing Officer Orgage SL, Abdoulaye Dia, in his opening statement said football is very close to his heart not just because Orange SL is investing a lot in football but because he is a Senegalese. He added that Orange is no stranger to supporting sport ranging from football to handball, and from youth to women, adding that their company is a big partner of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and that they have been sponsoring five of their major tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations, Under 20 AFCON, Women AFCON, the CAF Champions league and the CAF Super Cup.
“This day is special because we are here today to witness another historic moment in Sierra Leone as we will formalize our relationship with four of the most successful clubs in the Sierra Leone premier league”, he said. He further underscored that the clubs will for the first time witness the best of the partnership in order to accompany the clubs to raise their revenues through their fan base.
He went on the state that forging ties with the four clubs will take them a step closer to their goals of being close to their customers and thereby giving back to the communities.
In her statement also during the Press Conference, the Chief Executive Officer Orange SL, Aminata Kane, said football is part of Sierra Leone DNA which has served as a mechanism to bring the people together in good times and bad times.
Madam Kane furthered that the partnership is to give their undying support to not only the football clubs but football games as well adding that the event was to officially sign the MOU with the clubs. She disclosed further that the sponsorship is for three years and that in these 3 years, they will broadcast the clubs games on all the company partner radio stations and push sms with links to watch the game live.
In conclusion, she assured the clubs of the company continued support in developing football in the country. Minister of sport Ibrahim Yelenkeh, in his keynote address during the event, thanked the CEO Orange SL for the hospitality noting that he has no doubt in Orange adding that this is not the first time company has been supporting sport. He said the company has done massive support for so many clubs including the government of Sierra Leone.
Whiles addressing the beneficiary clubs, he urged them to take advantage of the opportunity in ensuring that they play within the rules and regulations that bind them adding that he woud ensure other clubs benefit from the said package.
Ahead of 2023 Elections…
Police interacts with community stakeholders
By Alhaji Turay
As the 2023 general Elections are around the corner, authorities at the Lumley police Division engaged the Lumley community stakeholders on the need for them to have confidence in the police by reporting cases at any nearest police station for possible settlement and co-existent.
speaking to participants at a sensitization meeting held at the Lumley police Division on Saturday 5th February 2022, the head of community relation in the Sierra Leone police, (CSP) Edna Finda Silver, discussed that the pressure of community Relations is felt in all police stations across the country and described community Relations as police officers who are working with community stakeholders to make the police work easier. She noted that police officers under the community Relations Department also settle disputes amongst members of a community. She spoke about the significant or important role played by the community safety volunteers (Csv’s) in helping the police in the area of sensitization adding that the CSV’S are members of the Local Police Partnership Board (LPPB) which assist the police to talk with community people on the essence to be law abiding citizens at all times through regular engagement to push the country’s development forward.
However, CSP Edna Finda Silver further elaborated on the election of the LPPB members as one of their major current issues to fulfil all vacant execute positions. She discussed that authorities at the police Headquarter were trying to organize the process of the said election which she said not easy to organize as a result of the huge financial resources involved.
“We respect our community people because the police cannot do it all alone without the full participation of the civilians” She stated. She further emphasized that the civilians are not only helping them with valuable information but they are also equally protected.
She informed journalists that, that was why they were working closely with Csv’s to relate well with community people. She noted and advanced that the regular information sharing between the police and civilians is one of their successes in policing from all corners of the country and described the lack of financial support in order to timely implement most of their security programs as one of their Major challenges.
She concluded by encouraging community people to have confidence in the police and to always report any dispute to the police station for their Swift intervention.
Energy Minister Mobilizes more Equipment for EDSA
By:Austine Luseni
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, presented seventeen motorbikes, which include two KVA generators, five desktop computers, thirteen laptops, two UPS, and two sets of office tables to the management of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) in Bo and Kenema as a way of helping the utility discharge its functions effectively.
Addressing the management and staff of EDSA, Alhaji Kanja Sesay described EDSA workers as diligent foot soldiers adding that their contributions to the energy sector and the many successes recorded were more than remarkably impressive. He said the New Direction administration inherited a situation in the country where only three regions out of five were enjoying relatively sustainable electricity.
He spoke about government’s efforts to provide Bo and Kenema with sustainable electricity noting that the conclusion of the CLSG agreements and the subsequent provision of a 24-hour electricity for the cities of Bo and Kenema couldn’t have come at a better time than now.
He expressed his disappointment at social media mischief makers who are always quick to take to different forms of social media to describe the Bo-Kenema electricity as a flash in the pan because of some unavoidable occasional technical glitches on the power line from Côte d’Ivoire.
Alhaji Kanja Sesay said that the two generators would help in the area of vending commendeding EDSA staff and urged them to increase their vigilance. He also described electricity theft as a national security issue and delivered a stern warning to staff against colluding with the public to illegally abstract electricity.
Acting Director General of EDSA, Ing. James Rogers, said his institution was happy to receive the items and promised that the equipment would be used for their intended purposes thereby positively impacting the work of EDSA in the southeast.
He said EDSA was logistically or operationally challenged in the southeast, but assured that with the items presented, the work of the utility would be made easier and more efficient.
The energy sector reforms continue.
