BY IBRAHIM JOENAL SESAY (232news.com)
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Seawright Mining Company, Dr. Alfred Seawright has toured Njala University School of Natural Resources Management, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) facility at Moyamba District, South of Sierra Leone.
This is the first visit of Dr. Alfred Seawright after the installation of his self-funded fish farming project at that university. Dr. Alfred Seawright accompanied by Madam Mollie R. Smith from Auburn University in the USA also held a fruitful meeting with the University Deputy Vice-Chancellor and team.
Head of the Department for Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Dr. Matthew D. Kpundeh pointed out that SMC started the project from inception, and constructed the building. He went on to recall that in 2020, Njala University benefited from a donation of a Research and Technical Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) facility from Seawright Mining Company, through an MoU between the Company and the University through its Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR), constructed and donated three RAS facilities in three locations in the country including Njala University location at Njala Campus.
According to Dr. Kpundeh, as embedded in the MoU, Njala University, though not part of the Mining concession areas, benefited from the gesture as an academic institution for providing training and technical oversight function to Sewafeh RAS and Gurama Mende RAS beneficiaries respectively for the pilot operationalization of the said donations.
He pointed out that the donations have contributed greatly to the learning and fish food security drive of the country.
“During the piloting phase, Njala University provided training on best management practices and cataloged recommendations for the sustainable management of the RAS technology in the country, while the donor, scouted for other donors and funding scaled up the technology in the country,” he stated.
Dr. Alfred Seawright also linked the University with the US Embassy in Freetown and Auburn University in the USA.
The system which has been installed at Njala University has placed the University ahead to lead in technical coordination for Nimiyama Chiefdom in Kono District and Gorama Mende in Kenema District which has a similar system donated by SMC.
The system SMC installed is 100% guaranteed as it will be able to generate 40 tons of fish every six (6) months and will do that full-time.
Statements were made by the DVC Njala Campus, Prof. Alieu Mohamed Bah, Njala University Registrar, Dr. Muneer Jalloh, and the Head of inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Sheke H. Kargbo.
