By: Alie Yusuf Bangura
It’s hard to know where to start when compiling a narrative about Gibrill A Sesay leadership style. Gibrill has been the subject of countless admiration for how he managed to self-motivate and inspire other young people across the country, and the rest of Africa.
Gibrill a young Sierra Leonean emerging leader widely known as Amb. Africanus Sr was born and raised in Mile 91, Tonkolili District. His leadership journey started in early 2012 when he confounded a community-based organization named Children in Support for Change Sierra Leone, a nonprofit advocacy group that provides counseling and mentorship to adolescent and school-going pupils in his hometown Mile 91.
In 2020, Gibrill participated as a fellow in the Young African Leaders Initiative Regional Leadership Center Accra Ghana where he demonstrated outstanding performance as an ethical leader.
Gibrill was selected as the only Sierra Leonean among other 40 young emerging leaders in Africa by the Future Africa Fellowship Program in Pretoria South Africa to participate in an eight months intensive research program that provides aspiring public sector leaders and innovators with the knowledge, network, and skills required to transform Africa political economy.
In 2021, Gibrill was also selected among 130 young civil society leaders across the world from 79 countries to participate in the Inaugural cohort of the Community Engagement Exchange Program funded by the State Department through the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX). Inspired by his work and civic engagement in his home country -Sierra Leone, Gibrill is completing professional leadership training at George Mason University, while working with other civil society organizations in the United States of America, notably The Urban Farm, Metro Caring Hunger Relief, etc.
As if that’s not enough, Gibrill was also selected among the few global leaders in the famous McKinsey Forward Program, an initiative designed to equip the next generation of young talent with practical skills to succeed in the future of work, the program focus on leadership, business and digital skills that are relevant and transferable across industries and roles.
Also, Gibrill has won himself special professional development training from the People’s Republic of China on Safety and Quality Management of Exportable Agricultural Products organized by Longping High-Tec Co. Ltd through the Hunan Ministry of Commerce.
When contacted by the author to explain how he has grown so rapidly as an emerging leader, he noted – “Leadership always calls for greater generosity – though most people lost in the darkness of their egos, treat it as an occasion for greater greed. I perceive all these achievements to be of little use – except as a means of transforming young and visionary leaders in my country – Sierra Leone.”
©️ Mass Communication Student
Central University Sierra Leone.
