Sierra Leone: The Commissioner for the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Dr. Sao-Kpato Hannah Isatta Max-Kyne, has paid a one-day field visit to the Wilberforce community as a way of responding to their calls for the rehabilitation of their community centre.
The main purpose of the visit was for her and team to get first-hand information and a bird’s eye view of the dilapidated 65-year-old multi-purpose community centre, currently being utilised by the Wilberforce Primary Municipal School.
Welcoming the commissioner and team, the chairman, Board of trustees for the Wilberforce community, Mr Claudius Faulkner, congratulated the commissioner on her new appointment, and for being the first female Commissioner of NaCSA.
“On behalf of the seven-member board of trustees for the Wilberforce Community, (Allen Squire), I want to officially welcome you to our beloved community for which we are very grateful for your quick response to our invitation. We the people of Wilberforce are very appreciative and thankful to NaCSA for the construction of our community health centre. Madam Commissioner, this community centre that you are inspecting was constructed in 1956 by self-help from the community people. It is currently housing the class six (6) pupils of the Wilberforce Primary Municipal School, who are getting ready for the upcoming NPSE,” Mr Faulkner ended.
Ms Adenike Cole, one of the seven-member Board of Trustees, and a woman activist, said she has faith and confidence in the commissioner and her team. Cole went on to inform the commissioner that the ageing centre had been closed for over 12 years now, and if rehabilitated by NaCSA, they will use the proceeds made from renting the hall to execute other developments in the community. “We will soon launch the Miss Wilberforce beauty pageant show, which during our day the event will host high calibre persons within and across the community. But sadly, the event will be hosted at another venue because of the condition of the centre.’’
Speaking to cross section of members of the community, Dr Max-Kyne appreciated the people of the Wilberforce community for recognising and appreciating NaCSA for its past intervention in the community, noting that the need for a modern community centre cannot be overemphasised. She noted that the commission will look into the demands of the Wilberforce community.
“…your request falls within our mandate for which we are set up for as a commission, and as the flagship programme of His Excellency President Bio is education, I will put a team of experts and engineers together to come and assess the building and see what it will look like in terms of funding. I pray that it falls within the threshold of our funding as this is not the only structure within the Western Area of the same nature that we are funding,” she noted.
“Wilberforce is a neighbourhood in Freetown; it is home to the Wilberforce military barracks, one of the largest in the country, and the main barracks of the Sierra Leone Military. Wilberforce was founded in 1810, and provided accommodation for re-captives and other liberated African slaves who were brought to Freetown.”
The Allen Squires, whose leadership possess the historical background of the village, hosts most of the essential facilities ranging from the community health centre (which was renovated by NaCSA), the old dilapidated community centre, and the primary and junior secondary school, and recently host the police post.
MJB/15/04/2021