SLAJ Leadership Honors Predecessors in Outreach Initiative

In a gesture of institutional continuity and respect, the newly elected Executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), led by President Alhaji Manika Kamara, has embarked on a series of courtesy visits to distinguished former presidents of the Association.

This initiative underscores the new leadership's commitment to building on the foundations laid by their predecessors while charting a forward-looking path.

The delegation, which included Immediate Past President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, paid homage to Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo (2004-2007), Umaru Fofana (2008-2013), and Kelvin Lewis (2014-2019). The visits served not only as an introduction of the new Executive but also as an affirmation of SLAJ's rich heritage.

Nasralla emphasized the importance of recognizing the contributions of past leaders, highlighting the honor and duty to acknowledge the shoulders on which the current leadership stands. He also appealed for their active participation in the SLAJ Elders Council, a body envisioned to provide strategic counsel.

President Kamara expressed his profound appreciation for the warm reception, reiterating his resolve to foster a consultative and inclusive administration. He affirmed that his Executive is committed to upholding the legacy of former leaders while charting their own path with their blessings and guidance.

The former presidents welcomed the new leadership, offering valuable advice and reaffirming their unwavering loyalty to SLAJ. Alhaji I.B. Kargbo lauded the peaceful transition as a sign of democratic maturity, while Umaru Fofana stressed the importance of journalist training and welfare. Kelvin Lewis advised the Executive to remain open to challenges and wise counsel.

The visits concluded with Appreciation Awards, symbolizing the generational unity within the Association.