Arabic Mission Grooming Thousands of Sierra Leoneans By Ulaba Samura A total of 27 classrooms, a dormitory, mosque, and a library have been constructed by MAADAA ALI Islamic Mission on 19 acres land at Grafton. The land was allocated by government to the mission, which now operates a primary and secondary schools, including higher institute of Arabic studies with more than 300 pupils and students in attendance. In honoring an invitation extended to journalists to visit the institute, it was discovered that more than 6,000 books in both English and Arabic are available in the mission’s library at Grafton. According to the Director of the school, Dr. Habib Sheriff, 99 percent of the funds came from the Gulf States, notably Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where he claimed to have studied and taught in some of the Universities there for 30 years. Dr. Sheriff added that the idea of opening a private Arabic institution in Sierra Leone is to revive memories of our past which should not be left in the hands of Western donors. He said he believes that Islam has a place in Sierra Leone and should be considered as the only religion capable to make mankind fear God, thereby reducing violence in our society, bringing about tolerance and patience in relationships and moderating attitudes and behaviors generally. He maintained that the mission is indebted to complete the trust between it and the Arab financiers by rendering moral and financial assistance to less capable local Islamic missions especially; the construction of mosques and Islamic schools which are over 66 nationwide; and also cater for Sierra Leoneans to pursue advance studies in Arabic institutions abroad. He disclosed that the mission operates a women’s wing with a countrywide strong membership of 45,000 women headed by Haja Fatima Kamara. He maintained that the mission wholeheartedly depends on donor funding without the contribution of the government. He went on to say that in the institute’s 13 years of existence, more that 500 Sierra Leoneans with have graduated with Diplomas which automatically qualifies them to enter any Arabic university in the world.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 16:57:13 +0000