By Janet A. Sesay
One of the leading All People’s Congress (APC) Flagbearer Aspirants, Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara, popularly known as Jagaban, has been honoured in the United States for his community service and philanthropic interventions in Sierra Leone.
Jagaban received the Moseray Fadika Lifetime Achievement Award at the AWOL America Achievement Awards ceremony held in Maryland over the weekend.
The award recognises his reported contribution to grassroots development, humanitarian assistance, women’s empowerment and community initiatives across Sierra Leone.
The ceremony brought together Sierra Leoneans from different walks of life, including community leaders, professionals, businesspeople and members of the diaspora.
Jagaban was not present at the said ceremony. However, the award was received on his behalf by his Global Campaign Coordinator, Ramie Saad, together with members of the MOK Jagaban Campaign Team USA, led by AB Bangura.
Grassroots supporters said the recognition reflects his growing record of direct interventions in communities across Sierra Leone.
His initiatives have included support for women engaged in small and medium-scale businesses through J-IMPACT, assistance to farmers and young people, healthcare and educational support, community infrastructure and humanitarian assistance.
Currently, the Jagaban solar street-light projects have also reached several communities and institutions across the country.
The award comes as Jagaban continues his campaign to secure the APC flagbearer position, with his supporters increasingly presenting his record of philanthropy and grassroots engagement as part of his leadership credentials.
The award is named after the late Ambassador Moseray Gibril Fadika, who was associated with AWOL and its tradition of giving back to society and contributing to national development.
For Jagaban’s supporters, the recognition is significant because it places his community interventions within a wider tradition of Sierra Leonean philanthropy.
The Maryland ceremony also provided an opportunity for Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to acknowledge the work being carried out by individuals and organisations contributing to communities back home.
As the APC leadership race gathers momentum, Jagaban’s supporters maintain that his approach demonstrates that leadership can begin through service to communities even before attaining public office.
The Maryland recognition therefore adds another international dimension to Jagaban’s growing political and philanthropic profile as he continues to engage APC supporters and Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad.