"The project builds on the Bank of Sierra Leone's long-standing efforts to address barriers to financial inclusion. With a $40 million grant from the World Bank, the project aims to deepen and expand this success by increasing access to transaction accounts and boosting credit for MSMEs." Sheik Yayah Sesay, Deputy Bank Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, speaks on Sierra Leone's second financial inclusion project as the Bank of Sierra Leone engages stakeholders. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

“In fact, 90% of all businesses in the country operate in the informal sector. Our ministry encourages everyone to participate in the formal process to gain benefits and financial support from the government." Speaking at the Sierra Leone government’s weekly press conference, Alhaji Ibrahim Sesay, Minister of Trade and Industry, highlights the importance of formalizing businesses. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

In an interview on AYV Wake Up Sierra Leone, Dr. Austin H. Demby, the Minister of Health, discusses the current state of free healthcare and introduces a new health insurance scheme in Sierra Leone. "What about everyone else who does not qualify for free healthcare? We are now launching a health insurance scheme that allows people to pay a small premium and share the risk," he explains. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"Free healthcare requires a lot of effort. The previous administration initiates free healthcare, and we expanded it. Now, free healthcare covers all pregnant and lactating mothers, Ebola survivors, the most vulnerable people, and people with disabilities." In an interview on AYV Wake Up Sierra Leone, Dr. Austin H. Demby, the Minister of Health, discusses the state of free healthcare in Sierra Leone. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"I will not go to the clinical aspect, but let me comment as a rotaractor: we donate three dollars each to the rotary foundation, and part of the money goes to the fight against polio." Alhaji Umar Sow, resident pharmacist at Connaught Hospital, explains on AYV's Wake Up Sierra Leone how Rotaractors contribute to the Rotary Foundation, with part of the funds supporting the fight against polio.  For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

The Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire was part of Sierra Leone’s representation at the 2nd African Cinema Summit in Accra Ghana, hosted by the National Film Authority Ghana and conveyed by CEO Julliet Yaa, Asantewaa. Sierra Leone was formidably represented by a crew from AYV on DSTV Channel 399, Joseph Fiample (JMef) of the SL Producers Guild, Bilal Jalloh, Creative Writer & Theatre Director, Nick Asgill and man of the hour himself Idris Elba. The deliberations attracted professionals from along the entire cinema value chain as this year’s Summit moved past the bells and whistles to tackle the real challenges to the development of African Cinema both as a medium to educate, entertain and provide much needed jobs on the continent. The event addressed multiple areas of the cinema value chain by bringing in professionals and key strategic stakeholders to the table. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"We want to be transparent enough to ensure that when we say we are going to recruit people, it should be the best, it should be open, and everybody should participate as long as you are a Sierra Leonean; the process should be accountable and inclusive as stated in the transformative strategy." Sulaiman Phoray-Musa, Director of the Public Sector Reform Office in the Office of the President, discusses the government's transformative strategy in AYV's Wake Up Sierra Leone. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

Dr. Peter Mac-Jajua, Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, highlights the challenges medical professionals face due to lack of essential resources. He raises concerns about how distractions, such as fuel supply limitations, negatively impact their focus. "Just imagine you have to take care of a patient, and you are thinking about fuel that is not good for even your mental health." Dr. Mac-Jajua stressed the need for authorities to address these issues immediately. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

Gemma Pyne-Bailey, Training and Outreach Specialist at the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, explains the center's efforts in protecting online users in Sierra Leone. "Following the signing of the Budapest Convention last year, the Cyber Security Crime Act came into existence in 2021. It encompasses approximately 30 offenses and crimes along with their respective punishments. As the national cyber security coordination center, we also strive to raise awareness among the public about safety measures," she said during an interview on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"If we start any constructive engagement before the 21 days, even if we disagree, we may consider extending or suspending the ultimatum. Since we've made it clear and sent ministry correspondences together, we can propose an MOU." Dr. Freddie Coker, President of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA), highlights the possibility of extending or suspending the strike ultimatum if constructive engagement with the government begins within the 21-day window. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"Someone who learned by understudying an engineer, for example, and who has been building bungalow houses, claimed to be an engineer and was hired to build a seven-story building—that's suicide." This man has never darkened the doors of any classroom; how can we call him an engineer?" ING Barton Cole, Vice President of the Sierra Leone Institute of Engineers (SLIE), warns against the use of quack engineers, highlighting the potential risks of buildings collapsing due to unqualified personnel. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

Come Invest in Sierra Leone’s Agri-Food Systems For #FeedSalone to succeed, private sector has to play a big role. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka said: “One of my responsibilities as Minister is to put policies and incentives in place to attract investment for the sector. The #FeedSalone strategy identifies six agricultural hubs across the country where government is building critical infrastructure to attract private investment”. This video features one such hub, where the minister is inviting investors to join the transformation of Sierra Leone’s food system. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"Generally put, we have about two or three different types of maintenance; I want to zoom in on the routine maintenance. By its very nomenclature, routine tells you that you should go on over and over again. And when we do our roads, we do expect that with time, potholes would develop... That's why we put in place a good maintenance strategy." Alfred Jalil Momodu, Director General of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, emphasizes the importance of routine road maintenance to keep the country's roadways functional and safe. In a recent interview on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone, he highlights that consistent maintenance is necessary as potholes and other issues naturally develop over time. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

In a defining moment for Sierra Leone's diplomatic engagement, George Shadrack Kamanda, Diplomatic and Legal Adviser at the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, delivered a powerful address on behalf of 86 countries at the Sixth Committee (Legal). Kamanda’s statement, centered on crimes against humanity, highlighted the urgent need for collective action and legal frameworks to end impunity. He said: “We stand at a crossroads, facing the sobering reality that, more than 75 years after the end of World War II, many people—whether young or old, women or children—still live in conditions that fall far short of the promises made by the international community in countless UN agreements.” He reminded the gathering that: “The time is now to act, and we must act in concert to end and prevent abhorrent acts fitting the definition of crimes against humanity.” For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"Engaging the international community, civil society, the more and more we are seeing that the government is embracing civil society as a partner, not as we see in some countries." She continues, "Sometimes it's because of their fragile, untruncated structures that they are not institutionalized and don't acknowledge the need to be partners, not adversaries, and the media also needs to be instruments of enlightenment." Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, the Team Lead for the International Moral Guarantors of the National Unity Agreement, highlights the positive relationship between Sierra Leone's government and civil society. Jallow-Tambajang's remarks underline the importance of partnerships between government, civil society, and the media in promoting peace and unity in Sierra Leone.  For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"I think from my perspective and the direction I’ve taken the team, our performance so far cannot be considered bad," he says. "However, I am not 100% satisfied. There’s still a lot of work to do to fulfill my dreams and commitment to qualifying Sierra Leone for the next Nations Cup." Leone Stars Head Coach Amidu Karim reflects on the team's performance as they strive to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations. Speaking on AYV's Wake Up Sierra Leone, Karim acknowledges the team's progress but emphasizes the need for more work. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

"...reopening is a process, and we are on it, so like you said rightly, we are going to reopen or resume on the 19th of October. But there are activities leading to that, and we are on those activities, for example, the publication of results for continuing students..." Dr. Tony Musa, Director of Communications at the University of Sierra Leone, confirms the institution's preparation for reopening during an interview on AYV's Wake Up Sierra Leone. He emphasizes the ongoing efforts to ensure a smooth transition, including releasing results for current students. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

In an interview on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone, Sidi Yayah Tunis, the National Publicity Secretary of the All People's Congress (APC) Party, addresses the inter tensions and disagreements within the Party. Tunis said: "Well, I wouldn't say things are falling apart. In any institution, you will never have 100% consensus", emphasising the need for transparency in addressing differing opinions within the party. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan David Hunt says “The US government, under our law, cannot pay off your country's accumulated debt to a private sector entity like Karpowership. That's not something that our domestic legislation allows us to do," The Ambassador's statement on AYV Wake Up Sierra Leone programme outlines the limitations on the use of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funds, highlighting the inability of US financial support, including MCC funds, to settle private sector debts. MCC investments instead focus on long-term infrastructure development, governance reforms, and the enhancement of public services. For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. More stories: www.ayvnews.com AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International.

AYV #FeedSalone Series. President Bio says food security is a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention President Bio said: “Securing food, energy and water resources for the future is not just a matter of survival, security, prosperity and sustainability, but it is a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention. We will make the transition to food security faster and easier for everyone . My government investment in feed Salone programme concerns our security and prosperity.” AYV brings you a must-watch #FeedSalone series featuring Sierra Leone H.E President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to mark the 1st anniversary of the Feed Salone programme on World Food Day, 16th October 2024. AYV Media Empire has released the #FeedSalone series to explore the challenges and prospects of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio government’s flagship FEED SALONE programme.  World Food Day. 16th October 2024.  1st Anniversary of #FeedSalone. #AYVDocumentaries.  For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to AYV Media. AYV Radio 101.7 FM, AYV TV Ch 33, AYV TV Ch 34, AYV DStv Ch 399 across Africa, and AYV International. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: