By: Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
History was made on Thursday, 28th August 2025, as the National Fund for Public Interest Media (NaFPIM) officially awarded its first set of grants to 14 media institutions across Sierra Leone, marking a new era for independent, professional, and people-centred journalism in the country.
The awarding ceremony, held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, brought together media leaders, government representatives, civil society, and international partners to celebrate what many described as a “giant leap” for press freedom and media sustainability in Sierra Leone.
A Journey from Repeal to Reform
Speaking at the ceremony, NaFPIM Board Chairman and immediate past President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, traced the journey that led to the establishment of the Fund. He recalled that it all began with the repeal of the 55-year-old criminal and seditious libel law, which for decades had shackled press freedom.
“That was the first big brick we removed from the wall that had long imprisoned media freedom in Sierra Leone,” he said. From there, he explained, the media sector dared to dream bigger, convening the first Media Viability and Investment Conference which eventually produced the National Action Plan for Media Development — the blueprint that birthed NaFPIM.
“Today, with the awarding of grants to deserving media outlets, NaFPIM is no longer just an idea on paper. It is alive. It is kicking. And it is here to serve as an independent and alternative source of revenue for the media; so that our outlets can pursue journalism in the public interest without fear or favour,” Nasralla declared.
Grants Worth $60,000 Disbursed
A total of Sixty Thousand United States Dollars (US$60,000), provided by the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) in partnership with BBC Media Action, was disbursed among the beneficiaries.
The 14 outlets supported under the pilot phase include Liberty Online TV in Freetown which received US$7,000; AYV TV with US$6,000; Hope FM in Makeni with US$4,000; Radio Bankasoka in Port Loko with US$4,000; Hands of Hope FM in Freetown with US$3,500; and Radio Gbaft in Mile 91 with US$4,000.
Radio Shalom in Falaba also received US$4,000; Kakua Newspaper in Bo US$3,000; Nature Newspaper in Freetown US$3,500; Radio Wanjei in Pujehun US$4,000; and Voice of Kono in Kono US$4,000. Completing the list are Calabash Newspaper in Freetown with US$2,000, Classic Radio in Bo with US$2,500, and Heart FM in Moyamba with US$4,000.
SLAJ Commends and Cautions
In a statement, SLAJ congratulated the successful media houses and hailed the initiative as a “landmark achievement” for the media landscape. SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara commended the NaFPIM Board and Technical Working Group for their diligence, urging grantees to “implement their projects with professionalism and integrity” so as to attract more funding in the future.
SLAJ also used the occasion to remind the Government of Sierra Leone of its commitment to provide counterpart funding for the Fund. “Journalism thrives not just on grants, but also on trust,” Nasralla added, diplomatically holding the government to its promise.
Building a Sustainable Future for Journalism
For Nasralla, who led the vision during his SLAJ presidency, the creation of NaFPIM is both an institutional and personal milestone. “This Fund stands as one of the most enduring legacies of our stewardship, proof that when media, civil society, government, and development partners come together in good faith, we can build sustainable solutions for our democracy,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing that NaFPIM is not just a financial mechanism, but “a statement that Sierra Leone can and will support journalism that serves its people.”
As the grants begin to roll out, the hope is that these investments will not only empower media outlets to strengthen accountability and public interest reporting but also set the stage for a stronger, more sustainable media landscape in Sierra Leone.
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