Her Excellency the First Lady Mrs Sia Koroma’s trbute to Samuel Philip Bangura, former Policy Adviser, Office of the First Lady at the United Methodist Church in Freetown, Sierra Leone, October 27th, 2015.
Today is perhaps one of the most difficult times in my life as I stand here to pay tribute to a brother, loved one, friend, church member, schoolmate and confidante, SAMUEL PHILIP BANGURA.
Sam and I were privileged to be born into the United Methodist family. Our parents were practising Christians who brought us up in the ethos of the strict Christian discipline.
The Koroma, Bangura and Max-Bailor families were extremely close in life and we were brought us up as one united family. We attended occasions that marked each other’s milestones in our lives, from birth through christenings, confirmations, graduations and marriages. Sam even had recollections of us at Sunday School at King Memorial Church.
The Bangura boys attended the Albert Academy along with the Bailors and my younger brother and my sister who completed her sixth form there, whilst their only sister Jeneba Konie and I attended the Annie Walsh Memorial School.
Sam and Hindolo Trye, of blessed memory, were amongst the young people who were instrumental in ushering the APC Party to victory in 2007.
Sam joined my office in November 2010. Before he commenced the job, Sam was informed in a brief interview that he would not be receiving a salary. He smiled in return and replied that he was ready to support me irrespective of a salary.
With his educational background and maturity, Sam’s strengths were easy to identify as an orator and prolific writer who enjoyed reading and writing. He was also a people’s person who liked organizing events. He was an extremely punctual and regular individual.
He automatically became Policy Advisor as he was able to manage my entire team including the military and police detail, in my absence. Sometimes he even stepped into the shoes of the Protocol, whenever he noticed lapses. Sam worked well with line Ministers in the government as well as with our local and international partners. He was a humorous person who got on well with his colleagues.
For Sam, he was there for me as a brother. He stood tall and had the ‘gravitas’ to go with it. He was extremely overprotective of me. He was my shield – always ready to take punches for me. His loyalty to me was unblemished.
Having acquired fine leadership training at the Hagai Institute, Sam enjoyed opening meetings with multi-donor partners with this caption: ‘can you still support what you cannot dominate?’ He would raise his eyebrows, look around the room and smile as he spoke these words.
Sam enjoyed trips to rural communities as we travelled the length and breadth of Sierra Leone. He cherished our work with traditional, religious and community leaders. He was always willing to write letters and banners for those who could not read or write.
Sam was able to be what he achieved in life because of his unshakeable faith in God. Having served in Evangelism, Sam also tried to uplift people. He helped the distressed and the underprivileged in our society and was against injustice and persecution.
His connection to my office was divine. We prayed together, shared spiritual truths and life’s experiences.
Sam accompanied me on several trips abroad. In 2010, he was the on the Presidential delegation to the African Union Summit in Equatorial Guinea. In 2011, he accompanied me to the African First Ladies Peace Mission in Abuja. In that same year he supported me at the Organisation of African First Ladies Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 2013, he accompanied me to the ‘Women Deliver’ Conference in Malaysia and to the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Japan. One of the most memorable trips we took was a holiday in Shanghai, China via Ghana and Malaysia. It was during this trip that I got to know that he was a perfect swimmer, singer and dancer.
At the start of the Ebola outbreak in the Mano River Union, Sam accompanied me on my maiden trip to the Republic of Guinea on 6 June, 2014. He told me that these trips were eye-openers for him and gave him inspiration to accompany me on more trips.
How will Sam be remembered? Sam Bangura was instrumental in setting up our first dialysis unit in Sierra Leone. He chaired several meetings, wrote many letters and supervised the rehabilitation work himself. He was the focal point between the Office of the First Lady and the Government of Sierra Leone on the one hand and the Government of Israel, on the other. Through this partnership, we were able to forge a strong working relationship with the Government of Israel.
He also proactively led the Office of the First Lady’s partnership with the Greatest Goal Ministries for the initial preparation of a cancer unit in Sierra Leone. Once again, he chaired the meetings and developed a very strong bond with the team from the United States of America. At this juncture, I would like to thank the Greatest Goal Ministries for supporting Sam throughout his treatment.
Sam Bangura will be remembered as a writer, a philosopher and a political analyst. His work in service to humanity especially with pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under-five and on the prevention of teenage pregnancy and early marriage will always be remembered. He taught leadership skills at the annual girls’ camp that the Office of the First Lady organises. His contribution towards the strengthening of the health care system in Sierra Leone by laying the foundations for the establishment of dialysis and cancer units in the country as I stated earlier, will also remain to his credit. His love for God and his support to the United Methodist Church and conference were known by all who knew him. He loved the Albert Academy, his alma mater dear. He has left an indelible mark in our hearts. He has left a void which cannot easily be filled. All I can say is ‘well done thou good and faithful servant’. Mathew 25:21 of the Holy Bible states as follows: ‘you were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord’: and so shall it be with Sam Bangura.
He survived the Ebola Virus Disease and worked assiduously to eliminate Ebola in Sierra Leone. He was very excited about our partnership with IsraAid, our partners from Israel who had come to offer training in psycho-social counseling. This pilot study was conducted at the State Lodge. Sam and I were part of the training which we thoroughly enjoyed.
He also played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Office of the First Lady’s project on the cultural dimensions of the Ebola Virus Disease. He found this particular work very challenging and prepared me to tread in areas where others have never dared to tread.
Samuel will be remembered as the Goliath in the office, who stood tall and was not afraid of challenges because of his faith in God. However, he had his biggest battle to confront when he suffered ill health lately. Being the son of a bishop, his faith in God and the training he had received at the Hagai Institute equipped him to confront his illness. I was with him through thick and thin and do not want to recollect what we endured together. I can only describe him as a courageous individual. I would like to assure his family that he was not alone. The Almighty God Was with him and so was I.
Sam was very brave and intelligent. He read every publication on his condition and yielded to all the medical advice. He prayed a lot - we all prayed as well. We loved him dearly but Jesus loves him best.
We would like to thank Sam Bangura for his service to the Nation. Sam, Sierra Leone, a grateful Nation, salutes you for a job well done.
Sleep on my beloved brother and confidante, sleep and take your rest until we meet again on the beautiful shore. May your soul rest in perfect peace and may light perpetual shine upon you.
I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences and that of my family and the Office of the First Lady to his siblings Mr. Thomas Bangura, Mrs Jeneba Koni Yaskey, Mr. Ansumana Bangura, his partner, Eleanor and his children C.J., Dora, Samuela and Baby Ansu, whom he fondly called ‘the King’.
To the Bishop and the United Methodist family, be consoled by the fact that we cannot mourn as unbelievers but with hope that we will meet again.
Let me close by challenging the Albert Academy Alumni Association, the United Methodist family and the Office of the First Lady, to reflect on how we can maintain the legacy of our beloved Sam Bangura. I stand ready to work earnestly with you to ensure that Sam’s memory lives on in Sierra Leone and beyond, for many years to come. God Bless you!
The late Sam Philip Bangura.
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