By Ing. Vaffie Sheriff

Friends, and fellow Countrymen, lend me your attention. Have we all not seen the transformative power of true inclusivity? Isn’t it inspiring to see a leader who doesn’t just speak of unity but exemplifies it in every action? Under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, we have seen political divides bridged and opportunities created for all, leaving no one behind. This is the kind of leadership that moves nations forward—a leadership driven by the principles of inclusion and unity.

In April 1951, our forefathers didn’t see Inclusion merely as an option—it was the solution. It became the foundation upon which the Sierra Leone People’s Party built its future. Before independence, at a time when divisions threatened to hold the nation back, National Inclusion provided the only path forward, uniting Sierra Leoneans as one country, one people, with one shared destiny. It was the proven approach that carried us into independence and beyond.

President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for this country is clear —a Sierra Leone where every child has access to quality education, every community has a voice, every citizen has access to an enabling environment to contribute to national development, where we all go to bed satisfied, and every citizen feels they belong. Isn’t that the Sierra Leone we all deserve?

The Radical Inclusion Policy makes this dream a reality by ensuring that no one—regardless of their status, region, or background—is left behind in acquiring quality education.

Are we politically blind to these realities achieved under our president? Under his leadership, we have seen a Sierra Leone where no child, including a pregnant one is denied education because of poverty, where no region feels excluded from development and progress, and where every voice matters. President Bio promised us this, and he has delivered by placing cohesion, unity, and national inclusion at the heart of his governance and policymaking. This is what Radical Inclusion is all about.

To those of us who view Radical Inclusion through a different lens, I say this: inclusivity in our society is no longer just an idea—it is a living, breathing reality.

I say this, to all of you that: Radical Inclusion speaks a language we all understand—unity, peace, equality, progress, and the delivery of the president’s vision.

I say this: it reminds us that we are one country, one people. Say these words aloud and feel their power. Don’t they resonate with our deepest hopes for our nation?

I say this: it is about collaboration. It is not “us versus them” but rather “we for us.”

It does not threaten or prevent other stars from shining. It reminds us that our diversity is not a weakness but a source of strength.

This is not just rhetoric—it is a call to action, a promise that when we come together, we can achieve greatness.

Whether you are a farmer in Kailahun, a student in Freetown, a teacher in Kambia, a fisherman in Bonthe, a miner in the hills of Samaia Bendugu, Tonkolili, an Okada rider in Jendema, an Ataya seller in Kono, or a trader in Makeni, you are part of this vision. It’s about ensuring that every Sierra Leonean, regardless of age, tribe, or region, feels valued and included.

In the words of a wise leader: “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” Let Radical Inclusion guide us toward a future where every Sierra Leonean feels seen, heard, and valued.

We are one country.

We are one people.

And together, we will deliver.