The Leaders Reading Centre- LRC

THE AUTHOR OF THE NOVEMBER READING MONTH.

Abdul B. Kamara is a development economist with over two decades of experience in development policy research and development financing in Africa. He is currently Country Manager for the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Ethiopia, where he manages the Bank’s US$ 1.72 billion portfolio of projects. He has served in professional, managerial and high-level representational positions, including 6 years at the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), 16 years at the AfDB and one year as Assistant Secretary General at the

United Nations, while serving as Deputy Joint Special Representative at the UN-AU Hybrid Mission (UNAMID) in Darfur, Sudan.

Kamara has also served as AfDB’s Resident Representative for Sudan and South Sudan (2011–2017); as Manager of the Research Division (2007–2011); and as Senior Agricultural Economist for two year in the Bank. Earlier in his career, Kamara served for 4 years as a post-doctoral Research Scientist at the International Water Management Institute (South Africa), and 2 years as joint Research Associate at the International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC; and the International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dr. Kamara holds an M. Sc. and a Ph.D. in Agricultural & Development Economics from the German Universities of Hohenhein and Göttingen, respectively. He also has further professional education in Public Financial Management and Financial Regulation from Harvard University and from the London School of Economics. He is a laureate of Germany’s prestigious Josef G. Knoll Science Award 2002; the AfDB’s Vice Presidency Merit Award 2006 for Sector Operations, and the AfDB President’s INNOPitch Award 2016. Dr. Kamara has written extensively and published in reputable journals.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Leaders Reading Centre is hereby pleased to present to you its author, your author and one of Sierra Leonean Writers Series' authors of the month of February 2019. Who is this great author of the month of February 2019, Dr Philip Foday Yamba Thulla?

Dr Philip Foday Yamba Thulla was born in Lunsar, Sierra Leone. He attended the Saint Charles Lwanga Primary school and Holy Trinity Secondary School in Kenema. He later moved to the Huntindon Secondary School, Jui, Freetown, where he completed his secondary education. Dr. Philip Foday Yamba Thulla obtained a Higher Teachers' Certificate (H. T. C) in Primary Education from Freetown Teachers' College, a Bachelor of Arts Education (B.A Ed.) degree in Literature and Linguistics from Njala University College, University of Sierra Leone, a Master of Arts (M.A) degree and PhD degree in Literature from Njala University in Sierra Leone. Dr. Philip Foday Yamba Thulla was a pupil teacher and a teacher at the senior secondary school (The Methodist Boys' High School, Kissy, Mess Mess) for many years. Presently, he is a lecturer in Literature at the Institute of Languages and Cultural Studies, Njala University. He is a writer, editor and researcher. Among his works are: Homecoming: Knowing My People and Other Stories (a play and a compilation of short stories),The Chameleon Goes Home, Monkey and the Twins (also available in Krio), Falang (a short story in Contemporary Fireside Stories) and a set of poems in Contemporary Fireside Poems. Dr. Thulla is also co-editor of two Sierra Leonean anthologies: Contemporary Fireside Stories and Contemporary Fireside Poems. His recent text is Saving the State's House: the story of a Thug (a fictional memoir yet to be published). Dr. Philip Foday Yamba Thulla's stories are mostly ethnographical, drawing liberally from the Folklore of the Temne People. He has worked with the British Council on many...

SUMMARY REPORT ON DR FATMATTA TAQI READING MONTH 25/01/2019
The Dr Fatmatta Taqi Reading Month has come to an end with an open mic session and prize distribution ceremony on Friday 25th January 2019 at the ACACS Resource Centre at the University House, Fourah Bay College Campus. The open mic session brought together over 30 pupils and their teachers from The Sierra Leone Grammar School, Lebanese International School, The International School Ltd, both Primary and Secondary and the Tower Hill Municipal School, Primary and Secondary.
The pupils were mostly the winners of the reading challenge conducted in their respective schools. These excellent readers also got the opportunity to meet university students at the Open Mic Session where they were inspired by the author of the month Dr Fatmatta Taqi and her colleague, the renowned & prolific Dr. Gbanabom Hallowell. These two members of the Sierra Leone Writers Series interacted with all present in such a way that the impact was instantaneous. Within minutes of the 'pep' talks, question & answer & advisory sessions on the Art of Writing by Dr. Fatmatta Taqi and Dr Gbanabom Hallowell, all present were able to read out instant poems written during the advisory session. The atmosphere was palpable with intense creativity put together from young minds.

Dr Taqi encouraged them all (pupils & teachers) to put together their poems and short stories and submit to the Sierra Leonean Writers Series for publication.

The distribution of prizes to the excellent readers and young writers climaxed the open mic session at FBC.

In appreciation, the excellent readers and young writers expressed their thanks and appreciation to the following people:

Dr Fatmatta Taqi for not only visiting them at their various school assemblies where they were motivated to participate in the reading challenge organized by the Leaders Reading Centre.

Hello everyone,

The Leaders Reading Centre(LRC) is happy to say a big thank you to the Government of Sierra Leone especially HE Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio for launching the Free Quality Education Books today. It is the right step in ensuring the 'quality' aspect of the Free Quality Education.

It is great step in improving on our literacy and empowering the human resources of our beloved country, Mama Salone. At least through government initiative and support there are now books available in homes and schools for children to read. The Government of Sierra Leone has plaid their own part. It is left with the school authorities, parents and pupils to do their part.

Once again thank you Your Excellency Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and your government for this great move. May God richly blesses you.

LRC will be embarking on reading awareness raising on the importance of reading those books provided by the government. Please media houses give us the platform to do so. If you want to reach us to hear our views of how reading is important in the making use of those books feel free to contact us on +23278540013/030514616

Thank you for your attention.

©Leaders Reading Centre(LRC)

Dr Fatmattta Taqi Reading Month, January 2019.

Father Kemoh, the academic staff, and the pupils of Holy Spirit Secondary School, Shegbuma, Kailahun District welcome their mentor and role model Jemba Makiii Aziz-Kamara to her former school. A whole lot of the pupils have expressed interest to participate in Jemba Makiii Aziz Kamara Reading scheduled on the 14 December, 2018.

A big thank you goes to our sponsors Prof Patrick K Muana, Prof Osman A Sankoh (Mallam O & Jariatu Sankoh Foundation), Prof Pede Hollist, Senior Reader Mariama Gbao and our partners for their unflinching support to LRC and its beneficiaries through out 2018. May God continue to bless and provide for them more...

Ezekel M. Sherief is the president of Young Writers Association. He invited LRC to his book launch today in Bo at the St. Pious Hall. This young man wrote this book that I am holding. It is titled Africa Children Cry in Steps. I told him the next time he writes a book let him feel free to contact LRC we will pass it on to our sponsors Prof Mallam O and Prof Patrick K Muana for publication with the Sierra Leone Writers Series publishing house. He appreciated LRC so much for actively making his book launch a success.

In Dr. Jedidah Johnson former school, Beacon High, there were lots of girls who came forward to be screened for reading challenge that LRC is going to organize tomorrow at their school. I must say that lots of them made it for the reading challenge tomorrow. When I asked them why are them interested to participate in the reading challenge? Lots of them said they were inspired by Dr Jedidah Johnson Profile, some say the have passion for reading, while others say to want their school and their parents be proud of them like Jedidah Johnson. I had a long face-to-face intellectual discussion with Jedidah and her parents yesterday. They parents are thankful to LRC and its key sponsors Prof. Patrick K Muana, Prof Mallam O. Sankoh, Prof. Pede Hollist and Prof. Semeon Kaitibi for selecting and profiling their daughter across the country. "This kind of initiative worth to be given more funding in order to reach out to more pupils and students." Mr and Mrs Johnson concluded. "Didah" as she is fondly call by her parents is set to inspire and witness as Beacon High pupils read her book 'Youthful Yearnings' and compete for cash prizes. Watch out for video coverage on Social media, AYV and SLBC.

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27/10/2018 *Leaders Reading Centre(LRC)*
*Dr Jedidah Johnson Reading Month: October 2018*

Dear all, I (Amadu Sandy, Executive Director of LRC) am happy to inform you all that in Dr Jedidah Johnson Reading Month October 2018, I attended the book launching of Sierra Leoneans Writers Series' books written by Prof. Kosonike Koso-Thomas at British Council Tower Hill, Freetown.

It was indeed one of the best events I have ever attended in this month and the year 2018 because one of our sponsors and co-chairman of the Leaders Reading Centre Advisory Board , Prof. Osman A Sankoh(Mallam O) who owns the Sierra Leonean Writers Series and publisher of Prof. Kosonike Koso-Thomas' books that were launched by the Hon. Vice President - Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, did not only give the opportunity to for Sierra Leoneans to publish through the Sierra Leonean Writers Series (free of cost), but he particularly mentioned the good work the LRC Executive Director Amadu Sandy and his team is doing by profiling Sierra Leonean author's and organising reading challenges for pupils in schools and colleges. The book launch was attended by the vice president, ministers, honorable members of parliament, forth estate, and host of other dignitaries.

Please fellow readers and mentors join me to thank our sponsors and mentors: Prof Patrick K Muana and Prof Mallam O for taking the lead to inspire not only the best brains in the country to put their thoughts into books, but also motivate the young pupils in schools to read those thoughts and aspire to be better professionals in the country.

Attached are some of the photos of Prof. Kosonike Koso-Thomas book launch at British Council.
Have a blessed weekend by opening a book to read📖📖📖... *"we are professors today because we loved and love and will continue to love reading. It has worked for Prof Muana in English Language and Literature and for Prof Sankoh (Mallam O) in Mathematics and Stats...