By Ragan M. Conteh
In an effort to help boost the government’s human capital development agenda, Elevate Afric Innovation has organised a one day quiz, debate, and poem talent exposure competition.
The programme was held on Saturday, 2 September, 2023 at the Worldwide Entertainment Centre at Rokupa, eastern Freetown. In a snap interview with the Chief Innovator, Mr. Saidu Jakitay, he said they decided to organise the abovementioned activities to expose their students’ talents to rest of the world.
He informed that before the establishment of the institution, they observed that, Sierra Leone has over the years lagged behind in terms of innovation, which prompted them to first focus on transfer of knowledge in technology.
According to him, at the moment, they have five hundred (500) students enrolled in the institution. He however called on parents to send their children to Elevate Afric Innovation for quality learning.
He said to gain admission into the institution, someone should be able to read and write, adding that even adults can as well apply.
Addressing participants and parents present, the deputy director, Office of Clerk of Parliament, who also served as keynote speaker, Mrs Tagella M. C. Sam Esq., thanked the organisers of the programme for holding such an educative and entertaining event.
She urged students to make use of the opportunity presented to them by Elevate Afric Innovation. She spoke of the need for innovation to be the centre of focus for all learning institutions, underscoring that Elevate Afric Innovation should be emulated.
During the programme, students exposed their computer talents by engaging in Microsoft quiz competitions, poetry and debate competition, where they performed extremely well, and the winners bagged several attractive awards.
One of the parents who witnessed the programme, Amina Kamara, lauded the effort of Elevate Afric Innovation for organising such a wonderful programme.
She urged the institution’s head to continue such competition as according to her this will help improve their children’s skills in public speaking. A student who witnessed the programme expressed admiration for the good job the institution is doing and encouraged them to continue their work.
Other speakers who made meaningful contributions during the programme include the deputy director of Elevate Afric Innovation, judges, among others.
Those who participated in the debate and received awards include, Chernor Momoh Kamara, who bagged the first position award, and Mohamed S. Kamara, who received the second position award. In the poem competition category, Isha M.L. Kargbo bagged the first position award while Mohamed Kamara was second.
In the quiz competition category, Mohamed Kanu was first while Grace N. Kamara finished second. The programme was climaxed by a pool party which attracted several pupils from within and other learning institutions.