By George M.O. Williams
Freetown, Sierra Leone – President Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, officially launched a comprehensive Civic Education Strategy, emphasizing its role in fostering national cohesion and development.
The strategy was launched while he was opening the Salone Civic Festival 2024, held at the Miatta Conference Center, Youyi Building in Freetown.
The President described the festival as a symbolic celebration of Sierra Leone’s identity and aspirations. “It is a moment to celebrate the shared values that bind Sierra Leoneans together as one people,” he said. Reflecting on the country’s resilience through challenging times, President Bio underscored the importance of unity, peace, and respect in shaping Sierra Leone’s future.
“Civic education is a crucial step in nurturing peace and national cohesion,” he said. “As a nation, we must cultivate cohesion and embrace our diversity to restore the lost fabric of our society. Every citizen has the power to shape Sierra Leone’s future.”
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, elaborated on the newly launched strategy, named the Cotton Tree Civic Education Strategy. The initiative focuses on six pillars: ‘Love Salone, Feed Salone, Clean Salone, Heal Salone, Digitalize Salone, and Salone for We All’.
“The Cotton Tree is a powerful symbol in our culture, representing the roots of our society and a place where people come together,” Bah remarked. He highlighted the strategy’s goals, including enhancing citizens’ understanding of their rights and duties, fostering pride in their cultural heritage, and improving government accountability through annual reporting on achievements.
Bah also emphasized the festival’s role in showcasing Sierra Leone’s cultural heritage through collaborations with the Monuments and Relics Commission and the Ministry of Tourism.
Tanzilia Sankoh, the United Nations Representative, praised the initiative as a significant step toward inclusivity and democracy. “This strategy does not only educate the public on their rights and responsibilities but also prepares them to actively contribute to national development,” she stated.
Sankoh also highlighted recent partnerships between the UNDP, Irish Aid, and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, particularly in advancing data protection policies and regulations. She described these efforts as a testament to the country’s commitment to improving governance in the digital age.
The Salone Civic Festival 2024 and the launch of the Cotton Tree Civic Education Strategy mark a critical milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey towards unity, national pride, and sustainable development.
Interspersed with panel discussions, exhibitions, public engagements and cultural displays, the festival will engender national unity, civic pride, and active citizenship.
Citizens will directly engage with government ministries in their respective booths to respond to their questions and provide other vital information pertaining to implementation of the government’s Big Five agenda.
The civic festival will also promote cultural pride, heritage and unity through music, art, film and fashion, among others, and entreat citizens to actively participate in national development and support the Civic Education Strategy’s goals.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education will use the occasion to unveil its new website as well as those of other ministries in an effort to increase public access to essential civic information and delivery on government promises while presentations will spotlight Sierra Leone’s key achievements, particularly in mining, local content development, infrastructure, agriculture, digital transformation, etc.
A massive outdoor stage will be erected to host continuous live entertainment including music, poetry, fashion, exhibitions, cultural displays, etc throughout both days, ensuring an electrifying, celebratory atmosphere. The main indoor event in the Miatta Conference Center will be dedicated to presentations and discussions around the Big Five by the relevant authorities.
The targeted audiences include youth, media practitioners, artists and filmmakers, government officials and the general public.
Ministries will leverage the festival to present their work, empower citizens to understand, appreciate and support national progress under the Civic Education Strategy. By creating a platform for transparent, cultural celebration, and active participation, the civic festival will mark the beginning of a new era of civic responsibility and unity in Sierra Leone.
The Salonel Civic Festival will go a long way in bridging the communications gap between government and citizens.