Dr. David Moinina Sengeh
By Josephine Sesay
In a compelling and introspective audio message released on May 27, 2025, Sierra Leone’s chief minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, delivered a heartfelt reflection on leadership, governance, and the importance of staying connected to the people public servants are meant to serve.
Dr. Sengeh, who has spent over seven years in public service, recounted his journey from becoming Sierra Leone’s first chief Innovation officer to leading the ministry of Basic and Senior secondary education (MBSSE), and now serving as chief minister, each role, he noted, has deepened his belief in people-centered governance.
He recalled the bold creation of the chief Innovation office, a move that aligned with president Julius Maada Bio’s vision for national transformation through technology, that office would later evolve into the ministry of communications and technology an institutional step toward embedding innovation and digitization into Sierra Leone’s development fabric.
Transitioning into education, Dr. Sengeh became a key architect of the Free and Quality education (FQE) programme, which he helped expand into a globally recognized model for educational reform, he emphasized that MBSSE, Sierra Leone’s largest ministry by workforce and budget, has become a national engine for growth and inclusion.
Now, as chief minister, Dr. Sengeh turned his message to the qualities of true leadership, he expressed concern about leaders who isolate themselves from public criticism and instead encouraged constant dialogue with citizens, be where the people are complaining to hear and understand their concerns, he urged, leadership is about listening. It’s about showing up.
He emphasized that meaningful solutions are often discovered by simply engaging with people whether in churches, mosques, marketplaces, or on street corners, as long as conversations are respectful, he said, he remains open to hearing from anyone, regardless of status or political alignment,
Dr. Sengeh also defended his well-known open-door approach, referencing a recent public moment where he questioned a fellow government minister about a delayed project while being filmed, People asked why I did that, my response was simple, who do you serve yourself or the people I ask that question every day, the camera just happened to catch it, he argued that such transparency should be normalized in governance, not seen as extraordinary. According to him, public accountability, especially among leaders, is essential to democratic progress.
Dr. Sengeh acknowledged that leadership often involves difficult decisions that may not always align with popular opinion. Still, he believes that visionary leaders must balance public demands with long-term national interest and data-driven decision-making.
He concluded by revisiting the success of the FQE programme once widely doubted, now emulated around the world as a testament to what inclusive and innovative leadership can achieve, the programme is now being adopted globally, he said, that’s what happens when leadership listens, collaborates, and dares to dream big, reaffirming his commitment to inclusive, responsive, and transparent governance, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh called on all leaders in Sierra Leone to remain rooted in the lives and realities of the people they serve.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 30TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
