The National Sports Authority (NSA) and the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire have on Friday July 17, 2020, signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which the AYV will endeavour to provide huge media coverage to sporting activities in the country and sell Sierra Leone sports globally. The signing took place at the AYV headquarters at Tower Hill in Freetown.
The head of media at the National Sports Authority, Eric Fomba, the Director of Participation and Sustainable Sports, said that the MOU between the NSA and the Empire would bring more opportunities to the youths of Sierra Leone, and described the role of the NSA in regulating sports in the country.
According to Fomba, the Executive Director of the Authority, Dr. Kenneth Brima thanked the Government of President Bio for making sure that the NSA becomes operational in the country, and described the existence of the organization as an opportunity for Sierra Leoneans to work together in sports development in the country.
Fomba also quoted Dr. Brima as saying thus: “Although the country is fighting COVID-19, and the Government is paying serious attention to that battle, the GoSL through the Ministry of Finance was able to approve over two billion Leones for the Authority.”
He further said that the NSA boss thanked the CEO and staff of AYV Empire for their willingness to work with the NSA in the interest of Sierra Leoneans. According to him, other countries in African are far ahead of Sierra Leone in sports due to the presence of vibrant Sports Authorities.
Fomba said that he was optimistic that Sierra Leone would make improvement soon to match up with them especially with the media support from AYV, which according to him is unarguably one of the best media institutions in Africa.
“NSA will be engaging other media institutions for similar partnership,” Dr. Brima concluded.
He also referred to statement made by the CEO of AYV Media Empire Ambassador Anthony Jr. Navo, whom he said commended Dr. Brima and the NSA for their commitment and resilience, as well as the Government of Sierra Leone for the establishment of the Authority.
AYV CEO stressed that the MOU between the two institutions will be fully honoured and each point in the document will be stoutly implemented.
“AYV have now secured over half a million-dollar modern equipment purely for sports, with twenty (20) Outside Broadcasting (OB) Satellite to cover all sporting activities in the country.”
Ambassador Navo urged the NSA to be steadfast and resilient because bringing change is not always easy, but AYV will always stand by the NSA, in ensuring that sport is developed in the country.
“AYV is ready to support the Government and the people of Sierra Leone in order for the country to become the Singapore of Africa,” he ended.
Moderating the signing ceremony at the Empire’s Conference Room, Madam Stella Bangura who chaired the occasion, described the signing of the MOU as symbolic, noting that it was the first time in the history of Sierra Leone that a media institution has signed such an MOU with a government agency responsible for sports development in the country.
By Desmond Tunde Coker
21/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7870