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Former Minister of Lands, Housing and Country planning, Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay, past Thursday commemorated his China-Africa Friendship Award at China House.  Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay
Dr. Bobson Sesay was among five other eminent Africans who have made their mark in their respective countries. In the second half of last year, the venerable Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay was nominated for the prestigious China-Africa Friendship Contribution Award along with four other eminent African personalities including former Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda, erstwhile OAU (now AU) Secretary General, Dr. Salim A. Salim, Chairman of Congolese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Vital Bilal and former Vice President of Egypt, Yusuf Waly. The award which was established in 2006 is presented every three years to model figures who make great contributions to the China-Africa friendships. How refreshing and delightful therefore, it was, for our own Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay, from this part of the world, tiny Sierra Leone, to be among the maiden recipients at an impressive ceremony in the Chinese capital, Beijing on 12 November 2009. Worth noting, also, is his classification as a social economic and political development of the continent in no small measure to the social, economic and political development of the continent spanning decades. Considering Dr. Bobson Sesay’s immensely rich profile as a teacher, school administrator, educationist, diplomat, author, politician and sports enthusiast, it is easy to decipher that no mistake was made in including him among the crème de la crème’ of Africa. The China-Africa Friendship Contribution Award is the latest in a string of awards Dr. Bobson Sesay has received throughout his remarkably selfless service to mankind and his country. In 1995, Catholic priests in Lunsar awarded him for the great support he had given to them. Development and charity-based organization, AWOL (All Works of Life) and Madruga Club of Fourah Bay College, respectively, gave him the Minister of the Year award in 2004 while the 2005 the Association of Northern Students honoured him as Model Figure. In 2006, his admirers in Atlanta, USA, awarded him for his outstanding service and huge contribution to national development. The West African Examination Council (WAEC) in 2007 conferred on Dr. Bobson Sesay the fabulous award of Distinguished Friend of Council. Right from the outset, Dr. Bobson Sesay took the challenge of imparting knowledge into people with his enrolment for the Diploma in Education (Dip. Ed) at Fourah Bay College, serving as catalyst. This was after earning his first degree in English, French and Philosophy. He first taught at the Wesleyan Secondary School in Kamakwei and then the Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood Secondary School, Freetown, where he became the founding principal and singlehandedly developed the school to a government-recognized secondary school between 1970 and 1971. He later moved to the Ministry of Education as Assistant Secretary (Students) in 1979 before going abroad to take up appointment as Education Attaché in the Sierra Leone’s Embassy in the then USSR and Eastern Europe. He was Inspector of Schools in 1984, Principal Education Officer (Secondary) in 1987, Assistant Chief Education Officer in 1993 and Chief Education Officer and Director General of Education in 1995. Between 1987 and 2000, Dr. Bobson Sesay was member of various professional organizations as follows: 1987-2000 – West African Examination Council (WAEC); 1995-2000 – Teacher Colleges Council; 1995-2000 – University Court and 1999-2000 – Accreditation Commission Association of Universities and Colleges. Dr. Bobson Sesay is also an accomplished author of three published books and an unpublished one. These include: ‘The Calabash and the Box’, ‘The Pot of Lotion’ and ‘The Good Principal’ – all published by MacMillan. A published is still being sought for ‘The Judas and the Devil’. Because all works and no play makes Jack a dull boy, Dr. Bobson Sesay ensured his vigorous academic pursuit was interspersed with sporting activities. This explains why he has been the Chairman of the National Referees Committees from 1987 to date. He has also been the Chairman of the Sierra Leone China Friendship Society since 1993. He is happily married with four children. |
