By Lamin Bangura
The serene community of Kerry Town was the scene of a momentous occasion on Monday, 15th September 2025, as the Olive B Academy, a state-of-the-art all-girls boarding school, officially opened its doors. The grand ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, led by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, who served as the Guest of Honor.
The event commenced with a protocol handover to the Western Rural District Council Chairman, who warmly welcomed the First Lady and all attendees to the area. In his remarks, he expressed profound gratitude for the establishment of the institution, highlighting its role in providing opportunity and safety for the girls of the region. He assured the founders of the community’s unwavering support, stating, “At all times, you have our support.”
The founder of the academy, Mrs. Olive Favor-Baimba, delivered a heartfelt speech, tracing the school’s inception to a childhood dream shared with friends on a bridge in Moyamba. She paid tribute to her mother, a farmer and petty trader, whose belief in education was the family’s foundation. Mrs. Favor-Baimba also praised the power of partnership with her husband, Fofi Baimba, and the supportive environment created by the national leadership. She detailed the academy’s cutting-edge features, including a one-laptop-per-child policy, smart classrooms for global virtual learning, a 75 kVA solar power system for 24-hour electricity, and on-campus staff quarters to ensure teacher dedication. She emphasized the school’s commitment to continuous teacher education and environmental sustainability, noting the planting of over 500 trees on the 15-acre campus.
Mr. Fofi Baimba, co-founder, welcomed the First Lady with great admiration, noting it was his first time in such close company with her. He explained that the decision to invest their personal savings into the academy was driven by a desire to support the government’s human capital development agenda and the First Lady’s “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, which has made the nation safer for young girls.
Representing the security sector, Brigadier General William Tennyson conveyed the apologies of the Chief of Defense Staff and assured the academy and community of full security support. He highlighted the area’s peace and stability and drew a parallel with the upcoming relocation of the prestigious Horton Military Academy to nearby Benguema, signaling a growing hub of excellence in the region.
The Minister of Education, Mr. Conrad Sackey, celebrated the academy as a realization of a shared national vision. He commended President Julius Maada Bio for prioritizing education, and the First Lady for her passionate advocacy. “The true measure of a school is not its walls nor its facilities… it is the minds it shapes, the hearts it inspires, and the dreams it nurtures,” he stated, affirming that education is the key to opportunity, equity, and hope.
In her powerful keynote address, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio declared the opening more than a ceremony, but “a new beginning.” She described the academy as a “sanctuary for learning, a safe space of empowerment, and a beacon of progress” that aligns perfectly with the government’s free quality education initiative and her own campaign to protect girls. Directly addressing the students, she said, “I see doctors, I see engineers, I see artists, I see scientists… and even presidents.” She urged them to dream big and never allow anyone to silence their ambitions. The First Lady praised the founders for creating a world-class institution within Sierra Leone, eliminating the need for parents to send their children abroad for quality education. She concluded by exhorting the community of Kerry Town to protect, nurture, and own this new treasure in their midst.
The ceremony culminated with the First Lady cutting the ribbon to officially open the Olive B Academy, marking the start of a journey dedicated to empowering the next generation of Sierra Leonean women leaders.