Sierra Leone’s leading mobile telecommunications company, Orange Sierra Leone (OSL) joined hands with Agro Fish Farm to commemorate the fish farming company’s 6th anniversary. The event, themed “Inspiring Women and Youth to Embrace Fish Farming,” underscores both firms’ commitment to youth and female empowerment.

Kamal Abass, OSL’s Head of Public Relations and Corporate Responsibility, spotlighted OSL’s drive to empower the youth and bolster financial inclusivity in Sierra Leone. With a network of 17 affiliates in the Middle East and Africa, OSL’s strategy in Sierra Leone is congruent with its global vision.

Since its inception in 2019, OSL’s social investment grant initiative has aimed at financing budding innovators and generating employment avenues for Sierra Leone’s youth. From a modest beginning, the grant has now burgeoned to a whopping Le100 million. In a noteworthy mention, Abass spotlighted the significant female participation in the initiative, highlighting this year’s competition where eight female contenders from Limkokwing University vied for the prize.

Speaking on the shifting job landscape, Abass underscored e-commerce’s pivotal role in sculpting the job market’s future. He also charted OSL’s future plans that concentrate on pivotal sectors like health, education, and digital literacy. As a testament to their commitment, OSL is prepping finalist Hawanatu Sesay for an international contest.

In a nod to sustainability, Abass emphasized OSL’s endeavors, including the introduction of solar systems at their locations to combat environmental degradation. Over the initiative’s five-year tenure, ten winners emerged, predominantly women. Signifying OSL’s commitment, Abass assured Agro Fish Farm’s CEO, Aminata Kandeh, of unwavering financial backing.

Reacting to OSL’s endorsement, Kandeh recounted Agro Fish Farm’s half a decade-long journey, marked by challenges and unyielding resolve. “Celebrating our 6th anniversary is a monumental achievement, and it fills me with immense pride,” she expressed. Besides focusing on establishing industry benchmarks, Agro Fish Farm has an unwavering commitment to supplying sustainable fish to Sierra Leoneans.

Kandeh also spoke about her firm’s representation of Sierra Leone in international arenas, including Ghana and the U.S. With eyes set on the future, she unveiled plans to launch a Fish Academy in Sierra Leone within the upcoming six years.

Concluding her address, Kandeh hailed OSL’s role in championing women’s empowerment. The event symbolized the synergized vision of Orange Sierra Leone and Agro Fish Farm: to invigorate youth potential, champion innovation, and craft a sustainable future for the country’s fish farming sector.