By Foday Moriba Conteh
A high-powered delegation from the Board of Trustees of the Peninsula Educational Project, founded by UK-based Sierra Leonean philanthropist, Catherine Okrafo-Smart, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Minister, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh, at his office in Freetown.
The visiting delegation comprised Ambassador Ebun Aforo, Madam Jenneh Amara Bangali and Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker. Discussions centered on the project’s remarkable progress and the pivotal role Dr. Moinina David Sengeh played in its establishment in 2021, when he served as Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education.
During the meeting, the Board members expressed deep appreciation for the Chief Minister’s continued support and inspiration, recalling how his leadership at the project’s launch served as a catalyst for their current achievements. They also shared with him a photograph of the newly completed Peninsula Adult Education Institute, a state-of-the-art facility personally financed and constructed by Catherine Okrafo-Smart.
The Trustees officially invited Dr. Moinina David Sengeh to deliver the Keynote Address and formally inaugurate the new institute on November 7, 2025. The Chief Minister warmly accepted the invitation, commending Catherine Okrafo-Smart and her team for their enduring commitment to advancing education, skills training and lifelong learning opportunities for communities along the Peninsula.
In a touching reflection following the meeting, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh lauded Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker, founder of the 50/50 Women’s Group, describing her as one of Sierra Leone’s most inspiring advocates for gender equity and social justice.
“Aunty Nemata has been one of the most consistent and hardworking activists in this country,” he said. “At nearly 80, she remains full of life and continues to embody the very spirit of radical inclusion that we promote. When she visited, she asked for my Radical Inclusion book, and I was happy to sign a copy for her. Her joy reminded me of why our work matters.”
The Chief Minister added that the public’s growing embrace of his Radical Inclusion philosophy is both humbling and motivating. “Every day as I drive to work, I hear people shout, ‘We Will Deliver!’ or ‘Radical Inclusion!’ from police officers to school children. It shows that the message of inclusion and collective progress is resonating,” he remarked.
The meeting concluded on a high note, reaffirming the Government’s partnership with community-driven initiatives like the Peninsula Educational Project, which continues to transform lives through education and empowerment across Sierra Leone’s coastal communities.
