Freetown, Sierra Leone – In an emotional ceremony at the National Sports Authority (NSA) office on Signal Hill Road, ten law graduates have taken leave of Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, the Director General of the NSA, after successfully completing a three-month regulatory drafting project.
The graduates were part of a team co-opted by Dr. Abdulai to assist with drafting key regulations and statutory reforms aimed at improving sports governance in Sierra Leone. Their work, which forms a critical component of the NSA’s wider reform agenda, focused on drafting regulations for the Sports Development Fund, the Court of Arbitration, and the National Sports Basket Fund.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Miss Sylvia Priscilla Princess Sheriff expressed gratitude for the opportunity given by Dr. Abdulai. “We are deeply thankful for the experience and knowledge we’ve gained during this period. Drafting these regulations has been an invaluable learning experience that we will carry forward into our legal careers.”
In his response, Dr. Abdulai praised the interns for their dedication and the high quality of their work. He noted that the task they accomplished would have cost the NSA a significant sum if external consultants had been hired. He also emphasized that the experience had provided the interns with firsthand insight into sports governance and administration.
“I am very pleased with the work you have done, and I am confident it will leave a lasting impact on the NSA. I wish you all the best as you move on to the Sierra Leone Law School,” Dr. Abdulai said.
Dr. Abdulai also highlighted his leadership approach, emphasizing that the NSA operates with an open-door policy designed to give young people opportunities that were often not available to him and his peers when they were starting out.
Sulaiman Gbla, one of the interns, shared his joy at being part of the project, expressing hope that they would have the chance to work with the NSA again in the future. “We are ready to support Dr. Abdulai in any initiative he undertakes,” he said.
The National Sports Authority, established by an Act of Parliament, is tasked with promoting, encouraging, developing, and supervising all sports activities in Sierra Leone. The agency plays a pivotal role in ensuring the effective management and governance of sports in the country.