By Amin Kef (Ranger)
In a show of recognition for their outstanding commitment and support to the growth and development of the print media in the country, the Guild of Newspaper Editors (GoNE) has on Friday 13th January 2023 presented an award in the form of plaque to Africell Sierra Leone. The awarding ceremony which brought together Editors from different Media Houses was held at the Africell Conference Room on Wilberforce in Freetown.
In his address, the Managing Editor of “Teacher Lemp Lemp”, who also doubles as the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, applauded Africell for their continued support to the media over the years and prayed that the working relationship between Africell and the media will be rewarding and fruitful.
Presenting the award, the Chairman of the Guild of Newspaper Editors, Theo Harding, described the move as a show of appreciation to Africell for its tremendous support towards the growth and development of the print media in the country.
He continued by narrating the parable in the Bible of the ten lepers who got healed by Jesus, but only one returned to say thanks stating how they don’t want to be the nine who were not grateful and how that is the reason why they are showing their appreciation.
Theo Harding continued that the company has been assisting them since 2010, as his memory could recall, and how it has been there for them through thick and thin.
According to him, during Ebola when the corridors of sponsorship were shut, they got support from only Africell furthering that, when the COVID-19 pandemic break out it continued and even at this present moment of economic hardship the company is still giving support.
He maintained that even at this critical moment in the country, the company is still giving support to the media of which he said they are very grateful to the company.
Commenting on the Award, the Managing Director of Africell, Shadi Gerjawi, expressed gratitude to the Guild of Newspaper Editors for presenting the award to the company as a show of appreciation.
He said that the company has been supporting the media over the years because they believe in the media of which he described the media as reliable partner.
Shadi Gerjawi said that the partnership between Africell and the media has been amazing adding that Africell has supported the media and the media has in return also supported Africell.
The Managing Director concluded by assuring the media of Africell’s continuous support towards the growth and development of the media in the country.
