AGL donates school supplies to 1,400 students to alleviate financial burdens and strengthen communities 

As part of its ongoing commitment to education and community development, African Global Logistics (AGL) Sierra Leone has announced a significant donation of school supplies worth Le 444,825 to 1,400 students from three communities—Moa Wharf, Sea Side, and Matheagba Village in Karene District. The handover ceremony was held on Thursday, February 5, 2025, at the Freetown Terminal Limited (FTL) Conference Hall, and was attended by community leaders, education stakeholders, and senior management from both AGL and FTL.

The supplies distributed to the recipients included school bags, 200-page notebooks, 80-page exercise books, erasers, geometry sets, ledger books, Oxford dictionaries, pencils, blue and black pens, rulers, and scientific calculators. Organisers stated that the items are intended to relieve parents of some of the financial burdens associated with education while also improving learning conditions for students in the recipient communities.

During the ceremony, AGL Sub-Regional Manager Captain Fabjanko Kokan reaffirmed the company’s belief that education is critical to national development and social progress. He thanked stakeholders for their assistance and emphasised that the donation was intended to benefit 1,400 children in Freetown and other parts of Sierra Leone. “Education is the key to success, not only in Sierra Leone, but throughout the world,” Captain Kokan stated. “Education of children is the most powerful tool for change in any nation. AGL, which has over 25,000 employees and operates in 45 African countries, believes in leading by example. We are here to support families and children, as well as to give back to the communities in which we operate.”

Mr Maroun Abi-Aad, FTL General Manager, echoed this sentiment, describing educational investment as one of the most meaningful gifts a society can give its young people. He framed AGL’s contribution as an investment in future leaders, emphasising that the initiative is part of an ongoing corporate social responsibility strategy aimed at long-term community upliftment.

Mrs Yvonne Elliott, AGL’s Human Resource Manager, emphasised the company’s responsibility as a corporate citizen to help the surrounding communities. She described the donation, which totalled more than Le 440,000, as more than just material aid, but as an obligation with the expectation of measurable results. “This investment of over Le 440,000 is not just support—it is a responsibility,” she said, urging students to use the supplies responsibly and expressing the company’s desire to one day hear success stories from beneficiaries who credit their accomplishments to AGL’s assistance.

Representatives from the beneficiary communities also expressed heartfelt appreciation. Mr Abu Bakarr Barrie, Chairman of the Moa Wharf Community, described the initiative as “life-changing” and cited previous AGL assistance that resulted in successful school completion for community members. He promised that the communities would protect AGL’s contributions and maintain peaceful relations, particularly given the proximity of these neighbourhoods to port facilities.

The donation exemplifies AGL’s broader role in promoting educational access, relieving economic pressures on families, and building stronger ties between the company and the communities in which it operates. Organisers said the distribution is part of a long-term effort to contribute to national development by providing children with the tools they need to learn and succeed.