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St. Joseph’s Convent Secondary School in Freetown has emerged winner of the Ibrahim Jamil Sesay Memorial Inter-Secondary School Debate Competition, organised by the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPHA) at the Babatunde Cole Building, Fourah Bay College.
The competition formed part of the SLPHA’s “Catch Them Young” initiative, which seeks to provide pupils with opportunities to develop their literary, critical-thinking and public-speaking skills.
Seven secondary schools participated in the debate, which was hosted by Rotary Peace Fellow Alex Bah. The participating schools debated themes centred on power and integrity, with discussions highlighting the importance of ethical leadership and the role of young people in shaping Sierra Leone’s future.
Head of Media and Public Relations at the SLPHA, Mac’Ivan Kakpindi Vandy, stressed the Authority’s commitment to supporting young people to develop into ethical and responsible leaders.
Vandy encouraged the pupils to express themselves freely and objectively while developing the ability to become problem-solvers guided by integrity and courage. He reminded them that education extends beyond passing examinations, noting that the classroom also prepares young people for the realities and responsibilities of the wider world.
The debate trophy was named in honour of Ibrahim Jamil Sesay, a young lawyer who died last year. Sesay was described as a development-oriented patriot with a strong commitment to supporting young people in Sierra Leone, particularly through the arts.
The memorial debate is intended to keep his legacy of youth empowerment and service alive while encouraging a new generation of young Sierra Leoneans to embrace integrity, critical thinking and responsible leadership.
