July - September 2017 •
The Lion King
• 39
Feature
We must help the people of Sierra
Leone.’
And help was indeed on the way. It
was very reassuring to see the Nigerian
troops on ground as we landed in
Freetown. Nigeria is the big brother of
Africa, always ready to offer support
wherever it is needed.
We go straight to the Connaught hos-
pital where victims of the disaster were
being treated. We met the President
of Sierra Leone, H.E. Koroma and for-
mer President of Nigeria, Olusegun
Obasanjo. The reality of the disaster
was shocking. Seeing so many people
lying in hospital beds with bandages
and drips, desolate and in despair. It
is indescribable. These were the ones
who had survived. Hundreds were
still missing and over 600 had been
counted dead at this point. We meet
a woman whose two children are
amongst the dead. She is lying very
sick in the hospital bed. No home; No
family; No hope.
It is the type of scenario that one
often sees in the media but may never
actually witness in one’s lifetime. Sierra
Leone is definitely in a crisis situation,
but the people of Sierra Leone are
resilient.
President Koroma invites us back to the
State house after the most depressing
visit. The mood altogether was dour.
The Group Chairman of UBA didn’t
waste any time and let the President
know why we were there: ‘I come on
behalf of the board and manage-
ment of the United Bank for Africa,
UBA Group and also on behalf of the
Tony Elumelu Foundation. We heard
what happened to your country and
we deeply sympathise with your peo-
ple. This is the third tragedy for Sierra
Leone. The war, the Ebola break out.’
‘After the war what Sierra Leone need-
ed was massive reconstruction and
development and we felt that bring-
ing business to Sierra Leone would
help the process of developing the
country. UBA brought this and during
the Ebola crises also, both personally
and also on behalf of the manage-
ment and board of UBA Foundation
we were very moved to support our
brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone.
This has touched the deepest part of
our heart and writing a letter is not
enough to convey the feelings of our
people and hence this trip.’
Elumelu donated U$D250,000 on
behalf of the UBA Group and another
U$D250,000 also on behalf of his foun-
dation, the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
‘Having seen the level of devastation
and the impact it is having on your
people, I would like on behalf of UBA
to support the effort in rehabilitating
the men and women in the affected
areas with the sum of $250,000. On
behalf of the Tony Elumelu Foundation,
I would also like to donate $250,000.
The $500,000 is little and symbolic and
can only be a bit of help because
the victims need much more than
financial support. They need people
to rally round them. We pray that God
will bring fortitude to them. That your
people are very resilient and you also
provide good leadership. From the
deepest part of my heart, we deeply
commiserate with you for what has
happened.’
President Koroma seemed moved by
this gesture. ‘Let me say that I am very
much encouraged by the letter you
earlier sent to us with the sentiments
expressed and also very impressed
that it didn’t end there. You continue
to be of support to the people of Sierra
Leone. Your institution, UBA came after
the war to provide services required to
support our rebuilding effort. During
our fight against Ebola you were here
as a bank and also as a foundation to
give us great support. It is such support
that enabled us win the fight against
Ebola. We have just concluded the
24 month recovery programme after
Ebola when the mud slide occurred.
We are very grateful as a nation and
know that in you, we have a brother
and this has been demonstrated over
the years.’
Koroma says that the recovery effort
for survivors is ongoing and that the
government is providing food shelter
for survivors. Providing construction of
permanent settlements where those
directly affected by the disaster will
be moved as well as those in disaster
prone locations in hilltops and sea
fronts. ‘It will be a big exercise for the
government over the next couple of
years but something sustainable has to
be put in place. In all of this I must say
that people have been supportive’
he said.
Sierra Leone has a lot of work to do to
recover yet again. But the country has
beat disaster and misfortune before
and they will most likely do so again.
Driving back to the airport I couldn’t
help but notice just how beautiful
Freetown was. It is surrounded by the
Atlantic Ocean. God’s own country
nestled in the warmest part of the
continent.
The people of Sierra Leone will come
up again for air after the clouds have
blown over. They will rebuild and
recover and they will again be free to
live in peace. How can they not?
For more information about the disas-
ter and to make donations, contact:
The Office of National Security (ONS), Freetown
Africell: +232 99 258 926
Airtel local Emergency Number: 119
Sierratel Emergency Number: 119
