https://exclusivenewspaper.net/in-honour-of-servant-leaders-the-late-henry-macauleys-and-dr-ibrahim-banguras-legacy-in-youth-empowerment/ In remembering Sierra Leone’s progress in renewable energy and youth empowerment, one name deserves solemn reverence: the late Henry Macauley, former Minister of Energy. (May his soul continue to rest in peace!) A man of foresight, humility, and remarkable tenacity, Macauley dedicated his time in office to creating long-term, people-centered change. His untimely death was a national loss, but his legacy continues to light the way. During his tenure, Macauley championed energy reforms that reached rural areas, empowered young people, and enhanced Sierra Leone’s energy profile on the international stage. But perhaps his most heartfelt work came through a partnership that few saw coming, a collaboration with Dr. Ibrahim Bangura on a key matter of national interest – youth empowerment. In the years following Sierra Leone’s devastating Ebola outbreak, when the economy lay fractured and youth unemployment soared, two men, neither seeking headlines nor high office, channeled their energies into quietly rebuilding the country from the grassroots. Aimed at equipping young Sierra Leoneans with practical skills in renewable energy, they launched a groundbreaking post-Ebola skills training initiative that defied convention. Instead of merely running programmes through official channels, they built partnerships across sectors and engaged communities directly. Ataya Bases across the country, from Makeni to Tokeh, Kabala to Tombo, Magburaka to Kailahun, Pujehun to Bonthe, became recruitment grounds for a new generation of solar technicians. At the heart of it all was a shared conviction: that youth are not just a demographic, but the engine of transformation. The programme trained youths from across the country in solar installation, repairs, and marketing. This was not a government-funded project. Rather, it was the result of Dr. Bangura’s personal commitment to national development, investing his own resources to support the broader goals of the APC government. In an environment where it is far more common for private entities to seek government backing for social projects, Dr. Bangura reversed the norm. He and Macualey brought in partners, including Ignite Power Sierra Leone and the Barefoot Women’s Solar College, at no cost to the state. Dr. Bangura’s role was entirely voluntary. He neither held a government post nor profited from government contracts. Yet, he chose to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Energy, recognizing the critical need to provide employable skills to Sierra Leone’s youth. It was a rare act of civic responsibility, borne from a belief that meaningful patriotism lies in sacrifice and solutions, not slogans. The late Henry Macauley, who chaired and supported the project as Minister of Energy, exemplified public service. A technocrat with vision, discipline, and humility, Macauley understood the long-term impact of renewable energy on rural electrification and job creation. His efforts, alongside Dr. Bangura, helped cement Sierra Leone’s initial steps into solar innovation. At the training site in Konta Line, Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District, Director General Benjamin Kamara represented Minister Macauley during one of the sessions. He underscored the significance of the initiative, telling the young men and women present that they now possessed certificates that could open doors. “I want you all to thank the organizers of this training,” Mr. Kamara said, noting that the programme’s financier was not a government official. “In fact, I have never met him. My Minister only told me he had found a patriotic private partner.” Christina Bucholtz, Country Manager for Ignite Power Sierra Leone, announced the company’s ambitious plan to supply solar home systems to more than 2 million people. She noted that trainees from the programme would form the first cohort of hires. Meanwhile, Zainab Conteh of Barefoot College reiterated the institution’s commitment to linking trained youth with global solar firms. The base of the project’s impact was wide and deep: selected participants drawn from dozens of Ataya Bases, an informal community hub whose collective membership at the time was over 700,000 across the Sierra Leone. Some participants, like Alimamy Keita, a final-year student at the former Milton Margai College, saw the training as a vital supplement to his technical studies. Others, like Mabinty Kamara from the Bassa Town Ataya Base, previously unschooled, used her certificate to apply for advanced study at Barefoot College. Mohamed Massaquoi, from the Bagdad ATAYA Base in Kenema, said he took the WASSCE few years prior but had not been able to enroll into university due to financial challenges when his base chairman gave him the invite for the training. He hoped to leverage a family connection at the Bo-Kenema power station to find employment that could make him further his studies with the certification he had aquired. Desmond Bangura from Mix Point Ataya Base in Makeni, was previously employed by Addax Bioenergy Company but he lost his job for two reasons, he said. Tge first reason was that the Ebola epidemic in the country forced the company to lay- off many of its employees and second; his limited knowledge of renewable energy affected his chances. With his new skills and certificate, Mr Bangura felt confident enough that he promised to reapply to the company. That thoughtful intervention, like many others he has rendered for and on behalf of the APC, notwithstanding the fact that he has never held an official government appointment, testifies to Dr. Bangura’s unmatched commitment, enduring dedication, and unwavering love for his party. Follow “A Story of Dedication and Service” as we continue to explore Dr. Bangura’s transformative journey across Sierra Leone. ———————————————A Solemn Note As this story is told, we pause to remember the late Hon. Henry Macauley. A man of quiet determination and technical brilliance, he served his country. Ben Turay served as deputy campaign lead in Dr. Bangura’s 2018 and 2023 campaigns. He holds an MBA in Marketing Management, a BA in Procurement and Logistics, and diplomas in Legal Studies and Journalism.