The new Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to Nigeria Henry Olufemi Macauley has said Sierra Leoneans should emulate the hard work, enterprising, restlessness and tenacity of Nigerians.
The High Commissioner was yesterday approved by Parliament along side two others, Kingsley B. Evans an agronomist to serve as Board Member National Standards Board and Sulaiman Kabba Koroma, a lawyer to serve on the National Revenue Authority Board.
Answering to questions from Awoko immediately after he was approved, Mr. Macauley said since he had lived in Nigeria, he has observed where they could be beneficial to Sierra Leone at a time when the country is moving towards oil exploration, development and security.
The new envoy was described by the Majority Leader in Parliament as a business diplomat who has been involved in bringing Nigerian investment to Sierra Leone and has also been involved in corporate business development in Africa. He holds an MBA degree, a certificate in oil industry, a certificate in French and a Bachelors degree with Honors in Engineering from Fourah Bay College.
Henry Olufemi Macauley said in the area of business expansion in Sierra Leone, there has been success in the area of the banking institutions as well as raising the bar of the Insurance Companies with plans of airlines intending to operate in the country. “I know also that oil companies, engineering companies wanting to come which will be beneficial to the country”
He however said to achieve some of the development strides made by Nigeria, Sierra Leoneans needed “enterprising nature, restlessness but most of all hard work and tenacity”
How he hoped to continue with the good relationship with Nigeria he remarked “most fortunately, I have a very good relationship with the Nigerian High Commissioner here and I think I have been able to discover that he has a keen interest in Sierra Leone which will make my job very easier. Already this year, I am aware we have benefited tremendously more so than the previous years from the exchange programmes that Nigeria offers to us”
Asked why he thought he was made a diplomat when he is a businessman, he answered “ I think His Excellency has seen what President Yar’dua has seen in trying to make sure that West Africa becomes an economic zone of high development. This is one way in which we prevent wars and civil strife which cause lots of destruction to lives and properties and the future”
Henry Olufemi Macauley is replacing Alhaji Mohamed Pamami Bayoh as Sierra Leone High Commissioner to Nigeria. His deputy, rtd Brig Sam Mboma, a former Chief of Defence Staff had already replaced rtd Brig Tom Carew also a former Chief of Defence Staff.
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