By: Benedict AbuBakarr Conteh
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, on Friday, February 27, 2026, welcomed the Chief Executive Officer of Africell Sierra Leone, Shadi Al-Gerjawi, to the SLAJ Secretariat in what has been described as a historic visit.
The engagement was a courtesy call on the Association’s newly elected Executive. Traditionally, it is the incoming SLAJ Executive that pays courtesy visits to corporate partners and stakeholders. However, Africell Sierra Leone took the initiative to visit the Secretariat first, marking a notable departure from established practice.
During the visit, President Kamara, accompanied by members of the Executive, conducted a tour of the Secretariat with the Africell CEO and the company’s Media Manager, Abdul Karim Sesay. The tour provided the delegation with firsthand insight into the current state of the Secretariat and highlighted potential areas for institutional development and strategic partnership.
Describing the visit as historic, President Kamara stated:
“Usually, we pay courtesy visits to our partners after being elected into office, but you have decided to change the narrative. This is impressive. We are honored to host you at our Secretariat as the first corporate leader to officially visit under my leadership. This clearly demonstrates the value Africell places on SLAJ and the media fraternity.”
The SLAJ President briefed the CEO on ongoing infrastructural improvements at the Secretariat and regional offices, including plans for a facelift and modernization. He also outlined the Executive’s intention to establish a modern Data Center at the Secretariat to provide journalists with access to research facilities and reliable, high-speed internet connectivity. According to him, the initiative aims to enhance professionalism, promote fact-based reporting, and foster innovation within the media sector.
President Kamara further informed the Africell delegation about recent fire incidents that destroyed three radio stations, leaving their respective communities without reliable and credible sources of information. He appealed for corporate support to help restore the affected stations to air as quickly as possible.
In addition, he highlighted an ongoing digital literacy training programme for 70 female journalists at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. The initiative is supported by the European Union through BBC Media Action. He noted that the impact of the programme would be significantly strengthened if beneficiaries had access to a fully equipped Data Center at the SLAJ Secretariat.
Responding, Africell Sierra Leone CEO Shadi Al-Gerjawi expressed appreciation to the SLAJ leadership for its continued collaboration in promoting media development and nation-building.
He emphasized that close engagement with the media remains a vital component of Africell’s corporate culture and stakeholder engagement strategy.
“We value the media as critical partners in our journey. Africell remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen journalism and promote national development,” he said, assuring that the company would carefully review the proposals presented and determine how best it can contribute to advancing professionalism within the industry.
The visit concluded with renewed commitments from both institutions to strengthen partnership and collaboration in support of media development in Sierra Leone.
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