The National Investment Board (NIB) and the National Revenue Authority (NRA) have announced a collaborative partnership aimed at simplifying business registration and improving revenue collection processes in Sierra Leone.
The initiative, discussed at a meeting held on February 3, 2025, reflects the government’s commitment to fostering a more attractive investment climate and driving economic growth.
Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director of the NIB, emphasized the significance of the partnership, linking the establishment of the NIB to President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for a stronger investment landscape. He highlighted ongoing government efforts to create a “one-stop shop” for business registration, facilitation, and retention, designed to streamline operations for investors while ensuring compliance with national regulations.
Dr. Sandy stressed the importance of collaboration with the NRA in improving the business environment, noting that a more efficient registration and revenue collection system would attract increased investment, encourage compliance, and generally create a more business-friendly atmosphere.
Echoing this sentiment, Mrs. Jeneba J. Bangura, Commissioner-General of the NRA, pledged the authority’s full support for the joint initiative. She underscored the importance of seamless revenue collection through automation and assured the NIB of the NRA’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency of the process.
To improve access to fuel, particularly in remote areas, NP SL Limited officially inaugurated a new petrol station, Abyei Gas Station, along the Jendema Highway in Sorogbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District.
The facility, owned and financed by Lahai Sandy Koroma, a development-driven native of Sorogbema, adds to his existing petrol stations in Bo City and Zimmi.
The grand opening, held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, was attended by key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, security personnel, representatives from the Drivers Union, the Bike Riders Union (BRU), youth groups, the media, and other community members.
Welcoming the gathering, Chiefdom Speaker Augustin Jah Zoker expressed gratitude for the investment, emphasizing the significance of the station in addressing long-standing fuel shortages in the region. He called on NP to maintain its reputation for quality service, assuring that the community would make good use of the facility.
Representing the CEO, The Sales Manager Ing. Vandy Bockarie praised the people of Sorogbema for their support and acknowledged the Gone community for providing land for the project.
He announced that Gone and Jendema would now be recognized as a city and assured residents that the 45,000-liter capacity station would significantly ease fuel challenges. He further noted that the station would operate daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM with standard pricing and professional service.
On behalf of the Mano River Union Division Police, ASP Michael A. Vanboy, the Support Officer, welcomed the development, pledging to provide security for the facility and ensure its protection from criminal activities.
The Town Chief of Gone, Chief Mohamed Keiwei, extended appreciation to Lahai Sandy Koroma and the landholding family for their role in making the project a reality. He assured that the community would safeguard the facility for the benefit of all.
From the transport sector, Drivers Union Chairman William Peal highlighted the previous difficulties in accessing petrol, stating that the new station would greatly ease their burden. Similarly, Bike Riders Union Chairman Lahai Zoker urged the station’s staff to uphold high service standards to maintain NP’s reputation.
The Mamie Queen of Sorogbema Chiefdom, Madam Tata Koroma, expressed gratitude for the investment, noting that women in the chiefdom welcomed such progress. However, she called on Mr. Lahai Sandy Koroma to extend support toward women’s empowerment, as many women in the area continue to face economic hardships.
Youth leader Jonney Rogers also commended the initiative, acknowledging that it has already created job opportunities for young people. He urged that more employment opportunities be provided for the youth in Sorogbema.
The opening of Abyei Gas Station marks a significant step in NP’s continued expansion, ensuring that fuel accessibility will no longer remain a challenge in Sorogbema Chiefdom.
On Monday, January 27, 2025, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, officially launched Orange Foundation Sierra Leone’s Orange Digital School Kits initiative.
The event, held at the Ansarul Islamic Primary School for Girls in Kono District her alma mater was a significant step toward enhancing the digital learning experience for young pupils in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, alongside Orange Sierra Leone CEO Sekou Amadou Bah, ceremoniously handed over a comprehensive set of digital school kits to the school. This donation aims to foster technological literacy and equip pupils with critical skills to thrive in a digital era.
The ceremony, hosted in the school hall, attracted high-profile attendees, including the Mayor of Koidu City, Komba Mathew Sam; Orange Sierra Leone General Secretary Danetta Younge; Head of Orange Digital Centre Finnah Mariama Stevens; as well as school authorities, community stakeholders, and local residents.
The donated digital kits comprised cutting-edge tools such as tablets, Raspberry Pi devices, laptops, Bluetooth speakers, projectors, screens, headsets, extension cables, power banks, and solar panels. These resources are tailored to enhance digital literacy, providing students with access to a tech-driven education.
In her remarks, Finnah Mariama Stevens emphasized the need for technological tools to drive innovation and bridge the digital divide. “From Freetown to Bo, Kenema, Kailahun, Pujehun, and now Kono, the Orange Foundation is ensuring that every child in Sierra Leone has access to the technological tools essential for today’s world,” she said.
She underscored Orange Sierra Leone’s commitment to the government’s human capital development agenda and its focus on empowering young girls through access to digital resources.
Addressing the gathering, Sekou Amadou Bah, CEO of Orange Sierra Leone underscored the transformative potential of the Digital School Kits in promoting education and empowering pupils through technology.
“These kits are electronic libraries designed to provide educational content to schools with limited or no internet access,” he noted “Currently, 16 countries, including Sierra Leone, have benefited from this program, with 1,400 schools and 500,000 pupils gaining access to digital education tools.”
Over the past three years, Orange Sierra Leone has donated 35 Digital School Kits, impacting over 10,000 pupils nationwide. The initiative also offers schools the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Wiki Challenge, an international competition organized by Orange Group. Last year, a Sierra Leonean school, Dele Preparatory School, won a €5,000 prize for their article on “Krio Print Dress.”
Bah urged pupils and teachers to handle the equipment with care and fully utilize them to enhance learning. “With technology, we can expand our horizons and enable new ways of easy learning. These tools are not just about access but about empowering young minds to explore and innovate,” he stated.
He reaffirmed Orange Sierra Leone’s commitment to supporting the government’s human capital development agenda through initiatives that align with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for the country.
His Worship, Mayor Komba Mathew Sam, expressed his gratitude to Orange Sierra Leone for selecting the Ansarul Islamic Primary School for Girls as a beneficiary of the initiative. He praised Orange Sierra Leone for bringing such innovative resources to his district and urged the school to utilize the digital kits to their fullest potential.
Reflecting on his own educational journey, Mayor Sam stated, “During my school days, I did not have the privilege of learning about computers until my college years. These young girls are fortunate to have this opportunity at such an early stage, and I hope they make the most of it.”
Headmistress Zainab Bah also commended the Orange Foundation for their generosity and expressed appreciation to Dr. Fatima Maada Bio for gracing the event. “We are committed to making the most of these resources to enhance our pupils’ learning experience and ensure their sustainability,” she assured.
In her keynote address, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio commended Orange Foundation Sierra Leone for its commitment to empowering education and emphasized the importance of equipping pupils with the skills necessary to thrive in the digital age. The initiative underscores the collaborative efforts to bridge the digital divide and promote educational development across the nation.
The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, expressed deep gratitude to her former school, crediting it for shaping her into the woman she is today. Dr. Bio highlighted the importance of technology in modern education, emphasizing that the digital kits would provide the pupils access to the tools needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, tech-driven world.
Dr. Bio encouraged the pupils to aspire beyond societal expectations, urging them to embrace science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses to position themselves as leaders in Sierra Leone and beyond. She underscored the importance of breaking barriers, discouraging early marriages, and striving for careers in leadership and innovation.
She urged the school to make effective use of the digital kits, emphasizing the importance of embracing technology in an increasingly digital world. “Today, let us celebrate Orange. I want all the pupils here to stand up and say, ‘Thank you, Orange.’ We promise to make good use of this facility and this opportunity.
She also expressed her gratitude to Orange Sierra Leone for the digital school kits, praising their efforts to empower girls across the country. “May God bless Orange Sierra Leone, elevate them, and help them grow from strength to strength,” she concluded.
The event concluded with the formal handover of the Digital School Kits to the school administration, symbolizing a new chapter in the pupils’ education journey. This initiative is expected to inspire a brighter future through the integration of technology into learning, paving the way for innovation and progress in Sierra Leone.
