By SALONE TIMES Editorial Team
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SALONE TIMES 10 Most influential Sierra Leoneans is purely based on the editorial judgment of the institution and what they believed the 10 people have achieved in the year 2022.
These are Sierra Leoneans drawn from all works of life who have left indelible footprints in their spheres of influence in the year under review.
They have served humanity, built institutions and served as an inspiration to many. Below is the list of SALONE TIMES Annual 10 Most Influential Sierra Leoneans 2022:
No. 10
HON ABDUL KARGBO: Hon Abdul Kargbo is a member of parliament of Constituency 077 in Port Loko District. He is a member of the main opposition All People Congress (APC) Party and Secretary General of the recently created Interim Transitional Committee of the party.
He recently brought sanity to the party by successfully challenging the Chairman of the Interim Committee, Alfred Peter Conteh in court with contempt charges which he won and that single decision has stabilized the APC for the 2023 June multi-tier election. He has been one of the vocal members of Parliament always speaking truth to power.
No. 9
ABU BAKARR KAMARA: Abu Bakarr Kamara is the Coordinator for the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) Sierra Leone and has been working around budget and it related issues for the past 8 years and he is responsible to ensure that both national and local government budgets are transparent, accountable and participatory in a bid to ensure that the budgets are pro-poor.
Kamara recently led the advocacy for debt cancellation and debt relief for Sierra Leone. He has also been very vocal on the unlawful removal of the Auditor General of Sierra Leone, Lara Taylor Pearce which according to him is not good for transparency and accountability.
No. 8
MANTY TARAWALLY: Manty Tarawally is the Minister of Gender. She was appointed by President when the Ministry of Gender was made a stand-alone Ministry in the country. As a Minister, she has developed a Gender Act which has empowered women all over Sierra Leone and in all spheres of life. This Bill which has successfully been transformed into a Law gives 30% reserved seats for women in politics; 30% appointment positions for women in all works of life as well as access to finance and gender mainstreaming and budgeting.
No. 7
LAWYER JESSIE MUNDA JENGO: Jessie Munda Jengo is a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Bachelor of Law Degree from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He was called to the Bar in 2015. He has recently won many high profile matters including the matter between Alfred Peter Conteh VS Former President Koroma, Alhaji Osman Foday Yansanneh and the All Peoples Congress (APC).
No. 6
BABADI KAMARA: Football Enthusiast, Businessman and Philanthropist, Babadi Kamara embarked on ambitious project of constructing a 6,000 capacity Stadium called the Southern Arena which is almost completed in the Southern Headquarter town of Bo district.
This was after he led a provincial football team for the second time to win the Sierra Leone Premier League and the construction of the first Football Club House in the country.
No. 5
JACOB THE EVANGELISTS: Musician and social media influenza Jacob The Evangelista also known as Therapist makes it to SALONE TIMES 10 Most Influential this year.
The tiktoker has his hit song “R wan Nack” rocking not only in Sierra Leone but across Africa if not the world. His hit song has been going viral on social media and all top entertainment points across the world. This hit song saw gurus in the entertainment industry scrambling for his signature.
No. 4
DR. PATRICK COKER: Dr. Patrick Coker started his sports administrative career as a Team Doctor for a club and later for the senior national team. His diligent service in sports as a team doctor led him to become President of the Sierra Leone Handball Association for some years. During his term as the Handball President Dr. Coker was elected as the NOCSLE Vice President a position he held for some years before he took over as the NOC president from Henry G. Moore when defeated Prince Sualley.
He held the above position for two terms (8 years) before he finally decided to step down this year as President for both the Handball association and the National Olympic Committee.
Dr. Coker is also a medical Doctor in Sierra Leone. He has practiced as a medical doctor for over 40 years. Because of his medical expertise, he was appointed without bid and contest as the Chairman of the Africa Anti-Doping Commission and also a member of the World Anti-Doping Commission.
Under his leadership as NOC President, Sierra Leone won a bid for the first time in history to host the ANOCA Secretary General’s Seminar in Sierra Leone this year. He has also started the construction of NOC Headquarter in Sierra Leone.
No. 3
PROF. MIRIAM CONTEH-MORGAN: On the 6th of September this year the University of Sierra Leone approved the appointment of Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan as the first Female Deputy Vice Chancellor and head of a college in the University of Sierra Leone.
Before his appointment, she served as the University Librarian and Assistant to the outgoing DVC of IPAM. Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan is the Coordinator of the University Development Committee and the University Endowment Fund.
She is an outstanding scholar with several contemporary publications in scholarly and reputable journals. She is a mentor that has motivated several women and men in leadership and team building.
No. 2
MOHAMED BAILOR JALLOH: Mohamed Bailor Jalloh the CEO of Focus1000 has the biggest advocacy network throughout the country. This network is made up of Religious leaders (Both Christians and Muslims), Market Women, Traditional Leaders, CSOs and the Media. Focus1000 is now a household name in the country and has offices in all 16 districts in the country.
His biggest success this year is the Kombra farm established in every district in the country in which committees in the various districts will plant what they will consume. Focus1000 has been involved in vaccination, lobbying for good health laws in the country. Apart from the Kombra farm, Focus100 through its partners is involved in loan schemes and environmental protection throughout the country. Mr. Mohamed Bailor Jalloh the CEO of Focus1000 is therefore currently one of the biggest influencers in the country.
No. 1
ING TUNDE COLE: Ing. Mohamed Baatunde Cole, known as Tunde Cole is a Sierra Leonean and an Alumnus of Fourah BAY College who championed, built and furnished three-storey multipurpose building which is estimated at $2 Million. It is a massive modern facility that can house over 700 students per session. The building is equipped with smart boards and overhead projectors for video/web conferencing and online conference deliveries.
Ing. Alhaji Mohamed Babatunde Cole is a fellow of the Institute of Engineering from the University in Sierra Leone and a member of Professional Engineers Registration Council.
Tunde Cole is a philanthropist and has helped many people especially students in their educational pursuit.
