The Chairman for the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED), Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi organized a two day civic engagement event to mark the National Remembrance day with the highlight being crowned at the Naja University, Towama Bo Campus.
Since His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio declared 18th of January as National Remembrance Day to serve as a day of self-reflection and memorial on the 11 years civil war that Sierra Leone suffered, in the wisdom of Chairman Bindi, a partnership between NaCCED and Njala University was cocreated leveraging on the expertise of Njala University to serve as lead and hub institution in training teachers in civics and researchers in civic education, engagement and related national issues.
In fostering the partnership and to support the week long commemoration programme, staff of NaCCED joined other Ministries, Departments and Agency in promoting the wearing of the white peace ribbon for two consecutive days starting on the 14th January which was followed on the 18th by the float parade from Torwama Campus to the Kenema highway junction involving students, lecturers and the general public as a significant match in sensitizing the people of Bo and its environs on reconciliation, peace and tolerance.
The evening of the same 18th January the Chairman of NaCCED and Professor Basiru Koroma, the Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University, led a candle light procession to the clock tower which is considered the heart of Bo City in mourning the dead and victims of the 11 year atrocious civil war.
Continuing on the 19th of January NaCCED Njala University held an expert panel discussion on the issues of the civil war, governance, reconciliation, peace and national cohesion at Auditorium in the Torwama campus. The Mayor of Bo City Council, Mayor Kobba Musa in his opening statement welcomed the participants and thanked the organizers for bringing such relevant discussions to the people of Bo.
The panel discussion had experts and high profile dignitaries to directly speak on the above mentioned issues.
Principal Executive Adviser to the President who also doubles as the head of the Public Sector Reform Unit, Dr. Emmanuel Gaima addressed the students on Governance structures by noting comparative analysis of Governance architectures before, during and after the war, whilst emphasizing on significant reforms that have taken place in recent years.
Also on the panel was Honorable Neneh Lebbie, Member of Parliament and caucus leader of MPs in Bo district and also a victim of the war (widow) who vividly recalled the inhumane treatments meted out on women and children during the war. She emphasized that women are critical partners in peace building highlighted contributions made by women in various fields and concluded by stating that women should be given equal opportunities in the management of the country.
Professor Basiru Koroma, VC &P of Njala University appreciated the collaboration with NaCCED and pledged his institution’s support to the objectives of building an empowered and informed civic citizenry. In addition, the Deputy Registrar of Njala University, Dr. Paul Komba Ngaujah narrated the contributions the University has made in promoting peaceful student union elections in recent years and assured the public of maintaining discipline and nurturing good characters in both students and lecturers.
The Regional Coordination of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, Mr. Titus Kallon narrated to the audience the commission’s mandate to promote peace and national cohesion, the efforts made since its inception and encouraged students to be peace ambassadors and avoid conflicts in its entirety.
Mr. Moinna Fofanah, ex-fighter and former member of the Civil Defence Force who is now Director of Peace, shared his thoughts on the civil war, his experience in prison and called for forgiveness, unity, emphasizing that ‘’Never Again’’ Sierra Leone should return to the evils of war.
The Honorable Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Bockarie Abdel Aziz Bawoh catalogued the contributions and importance of information and technology in conflict situations and peace consolidation and national development. He emphasized that whilst the Government continues to promote media freedom and participation he stamped on responsible journalism in giving out the correct information to the public and to avoid divisive rhetoric, messages and propaganda.
The panel discussion attended by over 2,000 students and stakeholders of Bo was moderated by Chairman Joseph Munda Bindi and Prof. Philip Foday Yamba Thulla of Njala University. The expert panel discussion was followed by a question and answer session with meaningful contributions from the Student Union President at Njala University and his colleagues.
Interspersed with the discussions, questions and answers was the presentation of highlights of the preliminary research on the issues of the civil war at Bomaru and its environs in Kailahun District, video clips and poems.
