This article discusses 20 points summarizing the future vision of Sierra Leone as seen by students at the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation   The article was originally published in the Awoko Newspaper, Freetown, Sierra Leone in February 2012.

"At the closing ceremony of the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation last Wednesday 1st February, the results of an essay competition for secondary children on the topic “How I will want to see Sierra Leone in the next 25 years” were read out.

Out of the 303 entities from 29 schools, 14 winners emerged. Six of the winners were students of the Sierra Leone Grammar School including the first prize winner Michael Gbenga. The other schools with winning students were Saint Joseph’s Convent (2), International School (4), Kolenten (1) in Kambia and Benevolent (1) in Makeni.

Michael Gbenga of the Sierra Leone Grammar School as winner of the first prize took home three million Leones whilst Antonia Howard of International Secondary School won the second prize of two million Leones and 3rd prize winner was Blessed Kebbie of the Sierra Leone Grammar School who took home one million Leones. The other 11 winners took home consolation prizes of three hundred thousand Leones each.

The first prize winner Michael Gbenga then took the podium to read out twenty points out of over a hundred points in their essays on how they (students) will want to see Sierra Leone in the next 25 years.

Michael Gbenga started by quoting that “one cannot tell the length of a hill by the length of its shadow.” He then went on to read out the twenty points.
These are:

1. A new Sierra Leone where people are dedicated to their jobs with realistic salaries and other benefits in place.
2. Teachers assigned to rural areas should be given special allowances.
3. I would like to see indiscriminate logging discouraged so that the advance of the Sahara desert will be stopped.
4. We need to see a green vegetation all around Sierra Leone. Great attention should be given to agriculture so that in 25 years there will be enough food for the nation and raw materials produced for agro-based industries.
5. Hope to see primary and secondary school staffed with well trained and qualified teachers from recognized colleges and universities in order to promote quality education.
6. I will like to see improved newspapers by well trained journalists with little or no grammatical errors. We need to have trained broadcasters that speak English fluently to mann our T.V and radio stations with a wide range of programmes both educative and entertaining.
7. I will like to see a Sierra Leone with a better road network to transport people and goods faster. I will like to see well-constructed roads and bridges all over the country plus good international airport.
8. A Sierra Leone with 24 hours of electricity supply and available pipe born water will make for a happy and healthy nation and an encouragement to investors coming into the country.
9. We are praying that in much less than 25 years we should abolish the two shifts system in all of our schools. School should run from 8am-3pm.
10. In 25 years we would like to see all Sierra Leoneans regardless of their location enjoying Free Health Care with more hospitals all over the country.
11. Offenders of the law should not be oppressed by police and military forces. They should ensure that offenders are charged to court and given free trial irrespective of status, sex or tribe.
12. We should work towards improving local and international communications through the media and internet facilities. These should be accessible to people in remote villages and towns as well.
13. The Sierra Leone we would like to see is one upholding democratic principles and good governance in the interest of peace and stability. A country where the leaders are accountable to the people that elected them. A country where the rule of law prevails and everyone is equal before the law. Citizens should be encouraged to pay taxes to help develop the country.
14. There should be complete separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and the legislative arms of government.
15. We are looking for a democratic state where citizens and journalists are free to express their minds on various issues so as to make the government of the day more effective.
16.  I want to see a Sierra Leone with leaders who lead with example, who say no to nepotism, tribalism, and regionalism. This will guarantee political stability.
17. I want to see a Sierra Leone with universal access to quality and functional education that will fight poverty, empower women and protect children from hazardous and exploitative labour as well as sexual exploitation. One that promotes human rights and democracy.
18. Our new nation should be one with no street begging or roaming madmen.
19. In the new Sierra Leone parents should be given 5 years imprisonment if they fail to send their children to school.
20. We would like to be a citizen of a country where underground means of transportation, more Ports added to the Queen Elizabeth Quay and 5 major international Airports."

By Betty Milton

Available online: https://awoko.org/2012/02/03/at-transformation-conference-%E2%80%A6-children-present-20-points-for-salone-in-25-years-time