Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Mr. Chernor Bah, has been honored with an invitation to deliver a public lecture at the Hesburgh Auditorium, Notre Dame University, on Tuesday, September 24th, as part of the institution’s celebration of the International Day of Peace.

Organized by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, the event marks a prestigious moment for Mr. Bah, who will also be awarded the Notre Dame 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Mr. Bah’s lecture, titled “Intentional National Consciousness as a Critical Tool for Long-Term Peacebuilding – A Sierra Leone Case Study,” will examine the development of national identity as a foundation for sustained peace. Drawing from Sierra Leone’s experience and the minister’s personal insights, the talk will address the historical legacies of colonialism, which have contributed to fragmentation and instability in the country. He will explore how a deliberate cultivation of national consciousness can mitigate these effects and foster peace.

The lecture is expected to highlight examples from other nations—such as Rwanda, Germany, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, and the United States—that have successfully implemented strategies to unify diverse populations. These case studies will inform Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts in national dialogue, civic education reform, cultural revitalization, and youth engagement.

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This marks a significant recognition of Mr. Bah’s role in promoting peace and civic education, as he joins a select group of Notre Dame alums honored with the university’s annual Distinguished Alumni Award.