AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo In a historic event that marked a milestone in Makeni's football history, P Strikers, a newly established Grassroot Football Club, unveiled its Under 12 and 14 teams following an intensive month-long open trial. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Saturday, 23rd December 2023, at the Major sports centre of the city, Makeni Wusum Hotel, attracting a diverse audience of parents, sports lovers, and supporters. Amidst the festive season, the event brought joy to 44 young soccer talents, with 22 selected for each level. Coach Mohamed K. Conteh, also known as Coach K-Plus, the Head Coach of P Strikers, shared insights with journalists about the rigorous selection process and the club's commitment to nurturing young talent. The journey commenced on 26th December with an open trial that drew over 80 players for the Under 12 level and more than 60 for the Under 14 level from various corners of Makeni and its surroundings. Coach K-Plus, drawing on his wealth o...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The long-standing rivalry between Kholifa Stars of Tonkolili and Wusum Stars of Bombali will take center stage today at the Magburaka playing field as both teams face each other for the first time in the national men's top-flight tournament. The Saturday match day-8 Leone Rock Premier League encounter will be the third meeting this year between these inter-district rivals. In their previous matches, Kholifa Stars emerged victorious with a 3-1 score line, but they suffered a defeat of 2-0 last month in a warm-up match at the Wusum Stadium. As newcomers and hosts, Kholifa Stars will enter the game with a modest desire to overcome their familiar adversaries. However, they must also contend with the pressure from their home crowd, who are eager for a victory to help the team move up from their current 16th position in the league standings. Kholifa Stars have managed to secure six points from seven league games so far. On the other hand, Wusum Stars, as th...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Yesterday, Forward Foday Conteh’s second half brace was just enough to help his side Bombali Sebora beat Hydro Stars 3-1 in the 2023/24 North East Region and SLFA organized division one playoff. Although the formidable Bombali Sebora football club of Makeni were given a huge run for their money by the resilient visitors from Bumbuna, Coach Alusine Conteh’s directives paid off in the 54th minute when Musa Mansaray slotted in the match’s first to put the host in front. But the resilient Hydro Stars didn’t give up and would go on to restore parity nine minutes later courtesy of Yusuf Kalokoh’s timely finish which kept the match scores leveled on 1-1 until Shebora’s goal machine Foday Conte who was eventually named man of the match stepped up and scored twice in the 81st and 85th minute to guarantee his side all three points to dislodge the visitors 3-1 in the regional first division playoff opening match. The victory means Bombali Sebora now leads zone one wh...

By: Paul Kamara Every Nation Polytechnic in Bo, over the weekend officially welcomed 703 new students during its matriculation ceremony held at the New Harvest Ministries Central Church House of Gathering, Old Railway Quarters off Prince Williams Street in Bo city, Southern province of Sierra Leone The mammoth gathering attracted Deans of Faculties and Heads of Departments, Administrative and Academic Staff, the newly admitted students, Families, Friends and other Well-wishers, the press among others. Welcoming all present, Madam Cynthia Esther Kpakra (Lecturer) warmly welcomed everyone for gracing the ceremony. She wasted no time in welcoming all freshmen and women into the college family. She congratulated all the newly admitted students, describing them as the chosen ones among thousands of applicants. She called on them to consider them as very lucky noting that many are called but few are chosen hence must consider themselves as the chosen few. "Today is a new dawn f...

Already raised, voices amplified but family still concerned .

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) Northern region town hall meeting held at the SLTU hall on Saturday highlighted significant progress in women's empowerment in Kamabai and Kamakwie. The meeting was attended by various women and other key stakeholders including traditional leaders and youth from selected towns and villages in Bombali and Karene district focuses on the outcomes of the project titled "Reposition Women-Focused CSOs for Sustainable Peace in Sierra Leone," funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). In her welcome address which sets the tone for a meaningful and purposeful dialogue, Madam Betty Alimamy Sesay, former WIMSAL North Chairperson, expressed gratitude to the attendees for honoring the invitation from WIMSAL. She specifically acknowledged and thanked the paramount chief of Biriwa chiefdom for taking the time to attend and grace the town hall meeting, emphasizing the importance of sharing experiences...

By: alusinerehme.wilson@awokonewspaper.sl After their 2-1 loss to Malimba Queens, Suba United, a female football powerhouse team from Makeni, bounced back with a 1-0 victory against Rangers Queen on their home turf. Suba FC’s win in the ongoing Equal Opportunity Women's Cup, organized by StarBurst Park, has boosted their morale, thanks to their talented forward, Zeneba Koroma who took advantage of Rangers Queen weak defense to net in the last minute of the game, bringing her total goal tally to four and topping the goal scoring chart. Koroma’s crucial goal had not only propelled her team to second place in the league's standings with six points and six goals, but also closed the gap with current leaders, Malimba Queens, who are three points ahead. Presently, Suba FC’s Jeneba Koroma is leading the goal scoring chart with four goals. She has disclosed her determination to scoring more to help her team secure victory in the competition. However, Suba FC's fate to secur...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson One of the two elected female Bombali Member of Parliaments in Sierra Leone, Honorable Marie Kamara has outlined her ambitious plan to empower women in her district and throughout the nation, with a focus on agriculture. She revealed her plan in an interview with AWE-Media.SL (https://arwilsonsentertainment.blogspot.com) after her swearing into Sierra Leone’s sixth parliament on Tuesday in which she expressed her gratitude for being elected as one of the second female MPs from Bombali, out of a total of eight elected to represent the region in the parliament. Honorable Marie Kamara reaffirms her commitment to fulfilling her campaign promise to continue to empower women, vowing to beat her track record of advocating for women's rights in her community. While, her previous efforts have focused on ending brutality, violence, teenage pregnancy, and early marriages, Honorable Marie however, recognizes that “more work needs to be done to support women in...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The Deputy National Chairman of the All People's Congress (APC) Party, Ambassador Osman Foday Yansaneh, has defended his party's decision to retract their stance on non-political engagement in governance. He defended his party during an interview with AWE-Media.SL (https://arwilsonsentertainment.blogspot.com) within the halls of parliament on Tuesday, after the swearing-in ceremony of the 52 other APC Members of Parliament into Sierra Leone's sixth parliament. Mr. Yansaneh expressed that the APC's actions were justified and aimed at benefitting the country. "As a party, we have brought our elected Members of Parliament (MPs) to the forefront of parliament to fulfil their roles as representatives of the people," emphasized Mr. Yansaneh. "There exists a social contract between the MPs and the constituents, with the district bulk system of representation being a significant aspect. The APC will ensure that the MPs prioritize t...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  In his recent statement on Facebook, President Julius Maada Bio declared the month of November as a period of unity, hope, and progress for Sierra Leone. While acknowledging the significant achievements the nation has made, he emphasized the need for further work to be done. President Bio called upon the citizens of Sierra Leone to remain committed to the principles of unity, freedom, and justice, urging them to come together and strive for a stronger, more inclusive and prosperous society. He expressed his unwavering belief in the resilience and determination of the people, deriving inspiration from their unwavering spirit. Highlighting the importance of reflecting on past accomplishments and setting new goals for the future, President Bio encouraged everyone to start November with a moment of contemplation and anticipation. He highlighted the amicable resolution of political differences among the country's leaders, emphasizing their collective determinat...

By: Mohamed Sahr The Ogoni, a minority group region situated in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria have been disproportionately affected by the oil industry's activities which have polluted their land, water and air. However, the pollution has led to health problems such as respiratory diseases, cancer and birth defects. The crisis has also sparked social unrest and protests. On that point, this work focuses on the Ogoni women as a set of minority groups. Hence, the on-going oil pollution crisis is a tragedy that has left a severe toll on the women. For decades, oil companies have spilled millions of gallons of crude oil into the Ogoni environment, causing catastrophic damage. Women have been forced to live with contaminated water, toxic soil, air pollution, and they have been denied access to basic human rights such as health and well-being. Even their traditional way of life that is centred on farming and fishing has disappeared forever. Since then, the crisis has contin...

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo The Girls Connect Mentorship Program in Sierra Leone (GCSL) recently achieved a significant milestone with its 2nd annual mentorship conference held at the Bombali District Council Hall in Makeni, on October 28, 2023. GCSL’s Mentorship Program in Sierra Leone appears to be making a positive impact on the lives of young girls by providing them with mentorship, guidance, and inspiration to achieve their dreams and become future leaders. The year’s event theme is "Empowering Girls in this Digital Generation to Lead Tomorrow’s World," brought together 80 young girls from schools in the Northern Region of Sierra Leone who had the opportunity to be mentored by accomplished women in Makeni and beyond. A panel discussion was conducted featuring many highly placed women of society including Dr. Manseray C. Kamara, a Medical Officer from Makeni Referral Hospital and Lecturer at the School of Clinical Sciences. In her session she emphasized the significant...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  After years of engaging in lyrical battles and exchanging verses, five notable rappers, namely Governor Blaq, Augustine Jay Tee, Sabi Success, Vee Pee, and Diamond Prince, are expected to come together at a highly-anticipated hip hop festival. This festival underway later today is being organized by D-Threat Empire Muzik, a team led by the experienced rapper BiggieKing, who has been a major contender for these lyricists. It will be staged at the Makeni city plaza which is expected to witness an extraordinary display of talent and a powerful lyrical showcase as these five renowned artists, along with BiggieKing himself, share the same stage and microphone. This unity concert aims to put an end to their long standing disputes and differences, allowing them to support one another and inspire the younger generation of rappers, especially those from Makeni. Additionally, it hopes to settle the debate among their fans about who holds the title of the best rapper...

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo The Sports for Empowerment Foundation Sierra Leone has embarked on a transformative journey with its Nationwide Grassroots Coaches Education and Management Training. This drive, which began on October 14, 2023, with broader aims to enhance the skills of coaches and also seeks to empower young athletes with the tools they need to succeed both on and off the field. Led by a team of dedicated professionals, including Harry Varley, KAA Gent's Head scout in Africa, who came with a twofold mission; Seeking to identify promising talent for his Belgian club and as well as with the core focus to build a solid foundation for the future of Sierra Leone's sports, with a primary emphasis on grassroots coaching and youth player development. Since they arrived in Sierra Leone on October 13, the foundation's team has travelled to some parts of the country, conducting training sessions in key locations such as Lungi, Bo, Kenema, Kamakwie, and Kono, with plans to ext...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The 2023 Liberia presidential election will see incumbent President George Manneh "Upon" Weah, who is running as the presidential candidate for the Coalition for Change (CDC), and former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, representing the Unity Party (UP), facing each other in a run-off election. Both candidates emerged as the top two contenders in the general election held on October 10, 2023, but neither secured the required 50% plus one vote threshold to be declared the outright winner. The final results of the October 10 polls that was announced on Tuesday evening by Mrs. Davidetta Browne Lansanah, Chairperson of NEC Liberia indicated that the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) received the highest number of votes, with 804,087 votes (43.83%), followed closely by the Unity Party (UP) with 796,961 votes (43.44%). However, since neither candidate obtained the required 50% plus one vote to win outright, a run-off election was declared. Durin...

By: Alhaji Manika Kamara Fatmata Maria Kamara, staff at the Makeni Government Hospital Library, is optimistic that the introduction of passenger trains by ARISE will help to reduce road crashes on the highways while driving to and from the provinces and help save lives. Fatmata was sharing her thoughts on the possible re-introduction of passenger trains that will be plying across various districts if the Government of Sierra Leone honors it agreement with ARISE for the development, expansion, and management of the Pepel Port and Rail.  She said the passenger train will help to ameliorate the suffering of the masses, especially as the pump price continues to increase. She said with the passenger train, people will have to pay less, and the fear of road accidents will be minimized. She appealed to the government and investors to ensure provisions are made for the masses to have access based on affordable train tickets. Ahmad Wurie Jalloh, a businessman, explained that he only s...

Proposed event flyer The Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security, under the theme "Developing a Just and Inclusive Energy Transition Plan for Sierra Leone in the Context of Climate Resilience and Sustainable Food Systems," will be convening the 1st National Dialogue Conference aimed to develop an Energy Transition Plan that promotes a just and inclusive transition to renewable energy sources while ensuring climate resilience and sustainable food systems. The event will take place at the Freetown City Council and commence with a keynote address by His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, under the auspices of Alhaji Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, the Chairman of PI-CREF. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella and President Bio Big 5 Agenda - A Lasting Legacy for Sierra Leone  Dr. Yumkella's appointment as Chairman of the Special Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security underscores his expertise and...

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo Newsfeed Sierra Leone, an online media institution in collaboration with Barrie Help Foundation and Ivorian Sillah has embarked on an innovative campaign to combat drug abuse among young people. This featured a day’s spirited basketball competition held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the Makeni Basketball Court, located within the perimeter of the Makeni Wusum Stadium. The theme of the event "Say no to Drugs," resonates with its purpose, spectators who witnessed the contest between Wusum Leakers and Rim Shot basketball teams all of Makeni said. Before the match unfolded in an atmosphere of tranquillity with loud cheering from dishearten spectators of both teams, messages advocating against drug abuse and misuse were disseminated, creating a powerful interaction between sports and social awareness were passed by Abu H. Kargbo, a co-founder and editor at Newsfeed Sierra Leone. Following his address to players, officials and spectators of the entic...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Augustine Gbla, a veteran forward for the Makeni Veterans Football Club, has gained the attention of football scouts due to his impressive performance in a recent match against Koidu Community. During the early morning friendly encounter which took place at the Koidu mini stadium on October 15, Gbla scored four goals (a haul) for his team in a 10-goal thriller. Gbla who’s known for his unique dribbling skills, speed, and shooting power, did evidently display the same amazing tricks during the weekend match. Although he entered the game as a second-half substitute, Gbla wasted no time to quickly help his team to equalize, and eventually put them in front, scoring four goals successively, with his last goal coming in the 77th minute. However, Koidu Community rebounded and took a 5-4 lead in the 83rd minute. It was only a last-minute goal by Morlai Kamara that allowed Makeni Veterans to salvage a draw in the high-scoring match, which ended 5-5. After the gam...

Alusine Rehme Wilson The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has chosen the American-Senegalese music star Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (AKON), as the host for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final draw. Known for his successful music career and his 'Akon Lighting Africa' project, which aims to provide solar power to African countries to help meet their basic needs, AKON's involvement is seen as an opportunity to add star power and glamour to the event. Given AKON’s passion for football and his dedication to social causes in Africa, this choice has been well-received by Africans. The AFCON final draw will take place at the Parc Des Expositions venue in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and will be live-streamed on CAF TV's YouTube channel and broadcasted across various global television partners, making it accessible to viewers in over 50 countries. It’s seen as a significant event where the 24 qualified teams will discover their group stage opponents for the 3...

Liaison Officer of Multinational Maritime Coordinating Centre ‘Zone F’ appraised journalists of the transnational maritime security crimes incurred despite the blessings endowed within the zone during a visit made by media experts as part of the Maritime Security Reporting Course in Accra, Ghana funded by the Danish Government. Flight Lieutenant Eyram Kwami, Liaison Officer of Multinational Maritime Coordinating Centre Zone F said the area which spammed from the Eastern Maritime border of Ghana to the West Maritime border of Guinea served as a transit point for goods from Americans, Europe and the Southern Africa; adding that it provided lots of fishing activities for the coastal nations within the six countries in the ‘Zone F’ region namely Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire and Burkina Faso as one of the landlocked countries in the Gulf of Guinea. Lieutenant Kwami added that despite the endowments within the ‘Zone F’ region, the area claimed transnational ma...