Mr. Mohamed Rahman (Rado) Swaray, who is Sierra Leone’s current Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, has proved his commitment to education and youth empowerment, as he sponsors eight (8) young Sierra Leoneans through university. The beneficiaries, who graduated recently from the Central University of Sierra Leone at Mile 91, paid an appreciation visit to the minister at his office in Freetown. They expressed gratitude on behalf of their families, whom they say they represent. “Most of us are the first to attain a university education in our families. For that, all our people are grateful to you, and we pray that you will never bow your head in shame. You and God did this for us,” the appreciative youths told their benefactor. In the spirit of gratitude, the young graduates pleaded with Mr Rado Swaray to further assist them in job placements or provide guidance for higher opportunities. “We have graduated, but we still need help. We are job hunting and we will appreciate help in whatever form, be it to work or to study further,” they pleaded.
In response, Mr. Swaray, who beamed with joy and pride, said that he was touched by their show of gratitude. He noted that even though he provided the funds, it was the students’ focus and determination that took them through their journey to attain their Bachelor’s Degrees and “I am very proud of you all.” “Your stories are not different from mine and that of several other successful people around us. Most of us started from the bottom. It has been hard work, education and perseverance, amidst extremely difficult challenges. Let me hasten to tell you that the acquisition of degrees does not mark the end of the journey, but the worst is over,” Mr. Swaray told the eager degree holders. He encouraged them to always take solace in the fact that they have security, and with a little push of the right button, they can become anything they want to be. He reminded them to continue to cloak themselves with good attitudes, as they have very bright prospects. “You have graduated from the best University in Sierra Leone, in terms of standards. You are fully equipped with the requisite knowledge and a bit of experience because we all know the teaching standards at the Central University of Sierra Leone. You are walking tools and technology experts. I have no regrets whatsoever for helping you, and this is something that I will do over and over again because this is one of the surest ways to boost the country’s economy and human capital development,” Mr Swaray stated. The Minister, who is very passionate about helping humanity, credited his compassion to his late mother, whom he said did everything to ensure that he and his siblings were educated, despite being illiterate herself. “Thoughts of her keep me going, and I have no intention of stopping, he said.
The eight young Sierra Leoneans, who are today graduates in Information Technology, Engineering and Business Administration, posed for photos, proudly displaying their honours degrees, with the minister in their midst.
