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Father-Daughter Duo From Sierra Leone Secure U.S. Patent for Groundbreaking Fractal Grid Invention


A U.S. patent application for a data-organising method called Fractal Gridding, filed by Sierra Leonean-born inventor Rodney Kuhn King and his daughter Ecy Femi King, remains pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, according to agency records. The application, published as US20240095226A1, describes “methods and related devices for storing and accessing data using multi-level fractal grids”.

The filing, submitted in September 2023, lists both Kings as inventors and claims priority to a provisional application filed in September 2022. Google Patents currently shows the application’s legal status as “Pending,” not granted.

The Fractal Grid is a visual tool that arranges information in a hierarchical, nine-cell grid structure designed to mirror how the brain organises data. Rodney King has described it as a “visual tool to organise information in a brain-friendly manner”. He first filed a related application for “Fractal Grid Hierarchical Presentation of Information” in 2007.



Rodney King attended the Prince of Wales School in Freetown, where he was Head Boy in 1976, and graduated from Fourah Bay College in 1980 with a civil engineering degree. He later earned a master’s in infrastructure planning from the University of Stuttgart and lectured at Bell College of Technology in Scotland before moving to the United States in 2003.

Ecy King, born in Scotland and raised in California, studied at Stanford University and is a fellow at Harvard’s Centre for Digital Thriving. She has authored three Fractal Grid comic books, including “Bit by Bit,” published by Stanford University Press.

The application’s publication has drawn attention in Sierra Leonean media, where the invention has been framed as a source of national pride. However, the USPTO has not yet issued a final decision on the patent’s claims.

Attempts to independently verify several biographical claims in recent media coverage—including the assertion that a Dr William Fitzjohn served as King’s lecturer at Fourah Bay College—were unsuccessful. Public records identify a William Henry Fitzjohn who taught at the college in the 1950s, decades before King’s enrollment.



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Orange SL Officially Launches Groundbreaking Employee Shareholder Program to Empower Workforce


In a landmark development that underscores its commitment to empowering its workforce and building long-term sustainability, Orange Sierra Leone has officially announced the launch of an Employee Shareholder Program, giving staff the opportunity to become part-owners of the company.

The initiative was unveiled during a high-level Town Hall Meeting at the company’s Hill Station headquarters on Monday, 26th May 2025, as part of a three-day working visit by Elisabeth Medou Badang, Chief Human Resource Officer for Orange Middle East and Africa (MEA).

The announcement marks a transformative shift in the company’s corporate strategy aligning employee contributions with ownership and providing a new framework for inclusive growth and engagement.



Agnes Songa, Human Resources Director of Orange Sierra Leone, welcomed the MEA HR Chief and described her presence as a profound demonstration of the Orange Group’s values of care, responsibility, and bold leadership. She emphasized that while Sierra Leone is a small affiliate in terms of size, its performance, staff engagement, and impact within the Orange network remain highly significant.

“We may be small in size, but we are strong in voice and performance,” said Songa. “We’re a top-performing affiliate and this visit is a testimony to that. Our CEO, Sekou Amadou Bah, has created an environment where staffs thrive, and this new shareholder initiative takes it a step further.”

CEO Sekou Amadou Bah used the occasion to officially launch the Employee Shareholder Program, describing it as a historic milestone in the company’s journey. He acknowledged the critical role of Elisabeth Medou Badang in guiding the vision and execution of the program.

“This program reflects our strong belief that employees are at the heart of our success,” said Bah. “With this initiative, we are not only recognizing your hard work we are inviting you to share in the company’s future prosperity as shareholders.”

He explained that the initiative allows employees to acquire shares in Orange Sierra Leone, aligning their personal success with that of the company. The move is expected to boost employee morale, drive accountability, and deepen staff loyalty.

In her keynote address, Elisabeth Medou Badang hailed the program as a “bold and visionary step,” reinforcing Orange Sierra Leone’s role as a pacesetter in the MEA region. She congratulated the team for their exceptional performance in employee engagement, innovation, and financial growth.

“I’m incredibly proud of what you have achieved in Sierra Leone,” she said. “You consistently rank at the top in engagement and satisfaction across the MEA region, and now you are leading again with this employee ownership program. This is your company. As Orange grows, so will your wealth not just through salaries, but through dividends and shared success.”

She described the launch of the Employee Shareholding Program as a symbol of trust, empowering staff to become co-creators of value in a company that belongs to them not just in spirit, but now in tangible ownership.

Medou Badang also took time to commend the warm hospitality of Sierra Leoneans, sharing how the country left a remarkable impression on her from the moment she arrived. She encouraged staff to maintain the culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration that has made Orange Sierra Leone a model affiliate.

“This is your company, your home, and your legacy,” she said. “Continue to build it with pride, commitment, and unity. The sky is not the limit the sky is your next starting point.”

The launch of the Employee Shareholder Program is expected to inspire similar models across the Orange Group’s operations in Africa and the Middle East, signaling a new chapter in employee-centered corporate leadership.



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