Centenary United Methodist Church Honors Muslim Mayor for Societal Contributions

Centenary United Methodist Church Honors Muslim Mayor for Societal Contributions

In a display of interfaith recognition, His Worship Thomas Karim Baio, the Muslim Mayor of Kenema City, was honored by the Centenary United Methodist Church's men's organization on Monday, September 1st, 2025. 

The church presented Mayor Baio with a certificate of recognition, designating him as their distinguished Grand Chief Patron.

The presentation, led by Samuel Maada Navo, chairman of the organization, took place at the Kenema Government Hospital, where the Mayor was actively involved in maintenance work across various departments.

Navo stated that Mayor Baio's selection was a direct result of his significant contributions to societal development. 

He emphasized that the faith-based organization adheres to specific parameters for selecting its Grand Chief Patron, and Mayor Baio unequivocally met these qualifications. "Though the mayor is a Muslim, his contributions to religious development cut across," Navo affirmed, highlighting the inclusive nature of the recognition.

Upon receiving the certificate, Mayor Baio expressed his gratitude to the organization's leadership for acknowledging his efforts. 

He apologized for his absence at their recent thanksgiving ceremony, explaining that he was engaged in other humanitarian services at the Kenema Government Hospital. Despite this, he pledged his continuous support to the organization.

Mayor Baio also took the opportunity to admonish the church members to persist in their role as moral guarantors, underscoring society's profound reliance on religious bodies to shape moral values. 

He voiced concern over some young people in Sierra Leone who have embarked on a detrimental path for the nation's future, asserting that only divine intervention could salvage what he described as a growing menace.