Physical Address
New England Ville, Freetown
State House, Freetown, Thursday 22 August 2024 – His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has welcomed executive members of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students (NUSS) at the presidency, where student leaders expressed appreciation for his commitment to human capital development, particularly through the Free Quality Education initiative.
NUSS President, Mohamed Rex Bhonapha, conveyed the union’s gratitude to President Bio, highlighting the transformative impact of the Free Quality Education and STEM programs for students across the country.
“It is a great pleasure for us to meet with you and to express our appreciation for empowering Sierra Leonean students,” Bhonapha stated. He noted that the launch of Free Quality Education was a “laudable initiative” that had significantly improved education in Sierra Leone over the past five years.
He also congratulated President Bio on his role as President of the United Nations Security Council for August, commending his dedication to peace and national cohesion. Bhonapha assured the President that student demonstrations would be a thing of the past, as they had learned to pursue peaceful resolutions.
In response, President Julius Maada Bio welcomed the NUSS executive members, expressing his delight in meeting with them.
“This is your place. We have not had time to meet and engage, but I am happy to receive you here today,” President Bio said. He emphasized his government’s commitment to investing in education and to ensure a better future for the children of Sierra Leone.
“This is your government. We have to invest in you to become better people than us in the future,” he added. The President reiterated his belief in the power of dialogue for development and conflict resolution, encouraging young people to engage in politics and contribute to national development.
He emphasized that the government’s focus was on providing quality education to help Sierra Leonean students regain the nation’s lost glory on the global stage. He also urged the students to continue building on the gains made in education and human capital development, reminding them that they had a responsibility to the nation not to fail.
