By Kemoh Saidu Sesay
The Sierra Leone Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim has presented $13,700 to the family of the late Ibrahim Dainkeh, a Sierra Leonean student who tragically passed away while studying at the China University of Petroleum in Beijing, China.
The handing-over ceremony was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Freetown, in the presence of members of the Dainkeh family, Acting Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alan C. E. Logan, and the Student Secretary of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, George A. Dambo.
This solemn gathering aimed to honor the memory of Ibrahim while providing much-needed support to his family during this difficult time. The financial support was made possible following a request from the Sierra Leone Embassy in China, which sought to secure health insurance for the late student’s family. This commitment underscores the embassy’s dedication to its citizens studying abroad and highlights the importance of being prepared for unexpected challenges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Karim extended his profound condolences, emphasizing the embassy’s unwavering commitment to its citizens abroad, especially the student community. Adding that the pain of losing a young mind filled with potential is irreparable, while reassuring the family that they are not alone in their moment of grief.
The tragic passing of Ibrahim sent shockwaves through the Sierra Leonean community in China, particularly the student body. As a promising scholar with a bright future ahead, his sudden demise left friends, colleagues, and loved ones in deep sorrow.
Dainkeh’s passing has reignited discussions about the welfare of Sierra Leonean students overseas. With a growing number pursuing higher education in China, the need for stronger support systems has become increasingly evident. The embassy’s response, though arising from tragedy, highlights a deep sense of unity within the Sierra Leonean diaspora.
Speaking to the President of the Sierra Leone Students’ Union in China (SLSUC), Josephine Margaret Williams lauded the Ambassador, the government of Sierra Leone and the staff of the Sierra Leone Embassy in China for their show of leadership and unflinching support to the family of a late colleague student. Adding that it is more than important for the student community in China to come together and work closely with the embassy.
She echoed that as President of SLSUC, she is going to ensure that the welfare of students studying in China is properly looked after, noting that as the family mourns their loss, the financial support from the embassy serves as a tangible gesture of the Sierra Leone diaspora solidarity, reaffirming that even in the face of grief, they are not alone.
