Fourah Bay College (FBC) and Annie Walsh Memorial School emerged victorious in the Collegiate Debate and Inter-Senior Secondary Schools Quiz Competition organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the One Love Salone Foundation as part of this year’s World Tourism Day celebrations.
Held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, the competition brought together university and secondary school students to showcase their knowledge, critical thinking, and understanding of tourism, technology, and national development under the World Tourism Day theme, “Digital Agenda and
Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”In the collegiate debate, FBC secured the championship after successfully defending the motion, “This House Believes That Technology Must Serve Humanity, Not Replace It.” Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) finished second, while the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) placed third.
In the secondary schools quiz competition, Annie Walsh Memorial School emerged as champions ahead of Sierra Leone Grammar School and St. Joseph’s Convent, which secured second and third positions respectively. Other participating schools included Excel Academy, Prince of Wales School, Bishop Johnson Memorial School, and the Freetown Secondary School for Girls.
Addressing participants at the opening ceremony, Senior Permanent Secretary Judith C. Jones described the contestants as “brilliant minds” and emphasised the importance of engaging young people in shaping the future of tourism. She noted that the Ministry deliberately targeted schools and universities because they represent the digital generation capable of promoting Sierra Leone through technology and innovation.
“Today is not just about dates and facts,” she told students. “It is about asking how you would use your phones and other devices to sell Sierra Leone to the world. Our generation has built the physical sites; you will build the digital bridge that brings the world to Sierra Leone.”
She encouraged contestants to be confident, listen carefully, and work collaboratively with their teammates, stressing that “teamwork is power” and that there were no losers in the competition.
Closing the event, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis thanked participating schools, universities, teachers, students, and partners for contributing to the success of the celebrations. She highlighted the various activities organised throughout the commemorative period and underscored the importance of leveraging digital innovation and artificial intelligence to strengthen Sierra Leone’s tourism sector.
The Minister commended contestants for their competitive spirit and enthusiasm, noting that their participation reflected a growing passion for tourism and national development among young people. She further encouraged schools and universities to utilise similar learning platforms within their institutions and expressed optimism about future engagements with students.
“The commitment and determination demonstrated by all the contestants today show that the future of tourism in Sierra Leone is bright,” she remarked.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and consolation prizes to fifteen contestants and their representative teachers. A major highlight was the presentation of the Best Quizzer Award to Yelie Nyakoi of Annie Walsh Memorial School, whose outstanding performance distinguished her as the competition’s top participant.
The successful debate and quiz competitions marked the climax of this year’s World Tourism Day celebrations and reinforced the Ministry’s commitment to empowering young people to become ambassadors for Sierra Leone’s tourism industry through education, innovation, and digital transformation.
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