‘Education is Key to Poverty Alleviation’- First Lady Sia Koroma

Concord Times (Freetown)

Ben Turay

4 May 2011

Freetown — Sierra Leone’s First Lady has highlighted education as one of the key weapons government would employ in its fight against poverty in the country.

Madam Sia Nyama Koroma was speaking during the formal launching and presentation of over 4,000 lap desks for use by primary school pupils donated by the Australian government in collaboration with Lap Desk Company in South Africa and the West Africa Youth Network (WAYN) last Friday. The ceremony took place at the Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown.

“Education brings about development and it changes the status of any nation,” said Mrs. Koroma, while pleading for more support and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the gesture.

A lap desk is a smaller variant of the writing slope. It is also called a writing box or a writing cabinet.

Chairman of the program, Richelieu Allison – who also doubles as regional manager of WAYN – said the donation was part of their support to improve education in the country. “These lap desks will be distributed to primary schools countrywide including schools in remote areas,” said Allison.

Australian ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Williams Billy Williams said lap desks were easy to carry and can also be used both in schools and at homes. “The lap desk can be used to write and draw; our government is fully committed to work with the government of Sierra Leone. In fact we have given scholarships to some Sierra Leoneans to study in Australia,” he disclosed.

Senior Liberian Senator in Maryland, John Ballout, thanked the government of Sierra Leone for the rapid development after the country’s brutal 11-year civil war.

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