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On Thursday 27^th August 2026, the Rotary Peace Fellow, Alex A. Bah concluded his “Catch Them Young” change initiative with young people, with a debate competition involving seven schools in the Western Area at the Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone. The academic competition, named the Ibrahim Jamil Sesay Esq. Memorial Trophy, had topics hovering around power and integrity, as organizers focused on shaping the minds of young people towards the topics. 

In his opening remarks, Rotary Peace Fellow, Alex A. Bah reminisced his days in school and the passion he and his peers used to have for debates and quiz competitions, noting that those moments counted a whole lot for who they have become today. Mentioning that he was known for debate and being anti-corruption back in school, he disclosed that he was the President of the Integrity Club of the Services Juba School. He furthered that together with other colleagues, they established the Youth in Action to Eradicate Corruption. 

Bah intimated that when he was awarded the Rotary Peace Fellowship out of thousands of applicants, he developed a social change initiative around young people so that they can understand the values of integrity. He emphasized that the driving motive of this initiative is to build a generation of trained ethical leaders who can be counted on to change the narratives of society. He however disclosed that known fully well that one “cannot teach old folks new tricks,” he is ceasing the opportunity to inculcate the right values in young people, but that they (young people) also have to be ready. He extended appreciation and commendation to the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) for understanding the importance of investing in young people and developing ethical leaders. Similarly, the Coordinator of Operations for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Patrick Sandi, thanked the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) being the major sponsor of the initiative, for what he described as the Authority’s enormous support to the “Catch Them Young: Combating Corruption through Educational Debates and Peace & Integrity Training.”

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Authority, the Head, Media and Public Relations of the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), on the topic “The Power of Young Voices: Integrity, Leadership and the Responsibility to Shape Sierra Leone’s Future,” Mac’Ivan Kakpindi Vandy, assured the gathering of the Authority’s willingness to always support such laudable initiatives, positing that “such initiatives ensure a developed Sierra Leone.” Vandy remarked that the country needs young people who can think independently and ask difficult questions and not those who will simply accept things as they are. SLPHA’s Media and Public Relations Chief pointed out that as young people, they should be able to identify problems and propose solutions to solve them, noting that they will face challenges that require ideas, courage, competence and integrity. “Your classrooms are therefore not just preparing you for examinations: they are preparing you for life. One day soon, some of you will sit in the very institutions where decisions affecting this country are made,” he stated, calling on them to therefore educate their minds, protect their integrity, respect the opinions of others and imbibe responsible behavior. Vandy wrapped up his keynote by cautioning the pupils that they should find and use their voices, but use those voices responsibly by challenging issues, asking for accountability in a responsible manner.

Following convincing and competitive arguments, the Ibrahim Jamil Sesay, Esq. debate was won by the St. Joseph’s Secondary School (Convent).