The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has bid farewell to two outstanding Sierra Leonean students, Samlin Coker and Abdul Aziz Jalloh, who have been awarded scholarships to pursue their undergraduate degrees at Mawardi University in India, Samlin Coker in Pharmacy and Abdul Aziz Jalloh in Civil Engineering.

In his opening statement, the Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer of the Ministry Dr. Josephus Brimah, highlighted the importance of the opportunity and reminded the students that they will be representing Sierra Leone in India, noteing that the scholarship comes with a great honor and responsibility, encouraging the students to make the most out of it.

Director of BD Infra (SL) Limited, Jayshil Shaileshbhai Lakhani, considered the scholarship as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students to study at one of the best universities in India.

Dr. Nilesh Advani from Mawardi University, conveyed his appreciation to MTHE for putting their trust in Mawardi University. He assured the students that the university would support them in every step of their academic journey and urged them to reach out if they encounter any challenges. Dr. Advani also expressed his hope for further collaborations between the university and MTHE in the future.

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Charge d’Affaires of the Indian High Commission in Sierra Leone, H.E. Neeraj Kumar Saini, emphasized the significance of the scholarship not only for the awardees but also for the bilateral relationship between India and Sierra Leone. He congratulated the students and urged them to represent their country well.

The Minister of Technical and Higher Education Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, noted that education has always been a top priority for the Government of Sierra Leone. She emphasized the importance of the scholarship opportunity in strengthening the bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and India, expressing her gratitude to BD Infra SL Limited for upholding their corporate social responsibility and supporting the government’s agenda. She also commended the courses chosen by the awardees, as they are aligned with Sierra Leone’s national development plan, acknowledging the key role that young people play in driving Sierra Leone’s socio-economic development.

In addressing the awardees, the Minister highlighted the uniqueness of the opportunity and encouraged them to represent Sierra Leone well, as the first cohort of students to benefit from the scholarship. She urged them to maintain a healthy work-life balance and make the most out of the opportunity given to them.

In her vote of thanks, one of the awardees, Samlin Coker, expressed her gratitude to Mawardi University, MTHE, BD Infra (SL) Limited, and their parents for providing them with the required support, assuring all present that they will make good use of the opportunity and return to Sierra Leone upon completion of their studies to contribute to Sierra Leone’s development.

During the farewell ceremony, the awardees were presented with their passports and tickets by MTHE’s Deputy Minister, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara.