Founder and Executive Director of Salone Messenger: Sierra Leonean Communication Strategist, Fixer, Blogger, Youth Organiser, Event Manager, Spokesperson, and Public Relations Expert, Sallu Kamuskay has been honoured with the 2023 Lead Patriotic Blogger Award, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, in Freetown.
The event was organised by Thelia Production and the Sierra Technology Awards to recognize and celebrate Individuals, Government Ministries and Agencies, Corporate and Religious Organizations employing Mobile, Digital and Technology platforms for their operations and services in Sierra Leone.
The Sierra Technology Awards is a unique platform that annually identifies and celebrates Organizations and Individuals who continue to strive to provide products and services to the general populace in a bid to bridge the digital-divide between Sierra Leone and the advanced economies employing technology.
During the event and after receiving the award, Sallu Kamuskay said “I started the journey in 2014 during the Ebola pandemic in my country. At that time, negative stories were the only ones you would find when searching about Sierra Leone. I dedicated my life to sharing the stories of young people who, amidst the situation in our country, dedicated their lives to making a difference.”
Other awardees included the Sierra Leone Digital Game Changer 2023 Awarded to Dr. David Moininah Sengeh, for his immense contribution to the government of Sierra Leone’s flagship agenda; Game Changer Awards for – Digitalization of Banking Technology 2023 Award to Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin for his immense contribution to the digitalization of the Rokel Commercial Bank’s core banking service in Sierra Leone; Lead Government Agency 2023 Award – Bridging Digital Divide (Activating The Switch) to the Bank Of Sierra Leone, for activating the Digital Switch that has enabled seamless financial settlements between diverse payment platforms both locally and internationally, National Tourist Board, NASSIT, DSTI, Sierra Leone Insurance Company otherwise known as SLICO as the
Lead Innovative Insurer 2023 in Sierra Leone among others.
As is a Sierra Leonean communication strategist, fixer, blogger, youth organiser, event manager, spokesperson, and public relations expert, Sallu Kamuskay’s work has been regularly referenced and published by national and international media and public policy institutions.
Sallu Kamuskay was a child during the brutal war in Sierra Leone. Growing up in the midst of conflict, Sallu witnessed unimaginable abuse of children and gross violations of human rights. The horrors he witnessed during the Civil War had a terrible impact on him at a very tender age. Despite the shock of the war, Sallu never lost hope. He started on a journey of recovery, studying, and working for a better future.
At age 15, Sallu entered into the world of activism and advocacy.
Sallu Kamuskay was the Vice President of the Young Leaders Organisation, a member of the National Youth Council. The Young Leaders is one of the oldest youth-led organisations in West Africa. The organisation was formed by a group of young leaders, and launched by the then Head of State/President of Sierra Leone – the Late Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabba..
Sallu was part of the group of young leaders who participated in and contributed to the establishment of the National Youth Council.
The Commonwealth supported the training for trainers programme with line ministries and youth stakeholders in which key, representatives of youth council, student union and civil society/private sector youth platforms were engaged and empowered in the effective engagement and inclusion of youth.
Sallu is co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global multimedia and public relations firm based In Sierra Leone.
Sallu has worked on various development and policy issues such as Poverty, Climate Change, Human rights, Child Rights, Education, Health, Gender Equality, Civic Engagement, Government policies, Information Communication Technology for Development and the Sustainable Development Goals; and has also been contributing to various global events and advocacy campaigns.
Being the co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global Multimedia and Public Relations Firm based in Sierra Leone with the latest news and information, on top stories, business, politics, entertainment, and more,
Sallu is working with a leading technology company in Africa, Techfrica that has recently developed and launched a social media, messaging Supfrica with over 150,000 downloads on the Google play store in less than 4 days. Sallu is the Adviser and Media Coordinator for the App, to give people the platform to connect and communicate and to help shape their future with a very fast internet that allows users that live in deprived and hard-to-reach areas with poor internet facility to be able to communicate; as it allows and stronger on 2 and 3 G network reception.
Sallu has over 9 years of experience in youth engagement, inclusion and coordination both at local and global levels, giving voice to young people and engaging young people to build a better world. He has served as Coordinator for the Wave Alliance which brought together youth-led organisations who attended an international training in South Africa organized by the International Organization – Waves for Change.
Sallu is also working with the MLT, Waves For Change, and the Government to develop safe spaces for young people, with a view to contributing to the overall development goals of young people including health, as well as to Community- rebuilding. Sallu is currently the Programme Director for the Wave Alliance, which is a coalition of youth-led and community-based organisations that have successfully introduced evidence-based Surf Therapy programs to young people in communities, with a focus on mental health, peace building and sustainable development.
In November, 2023, Sallu Kamuskay was in Zambia at the launch of the DCN Africa organised by DCN Global and World Learning. Sallu Participated in a panel discussion on “How Tradition and Innovation Influence African Storytelling in the Digital Age’, organized by the Digital Communication Network (DCN) Global and World Learning.
Sallu is currently the focal point and face of Africa’s Faces Social media platform which is a global Social media platform that brings together people from across the world to share their moments, connect, share videos, and interact with friends giving more preference to excluded continents, like Africa.
Sallu Kamuskay has devoted his time to working for or contributing to a number of national and international organizations and companies, including the Techfrica Technology Company, United Nations, ECOWAS, European Union and Commonwealth Africa Initiatives. This work has led him to travel to a number of countries to contribute on global youth platforms.
Sallu is the lead Coordinator for the Peace Tour Programme, an initiative supported by the European Union, Africa Union,and the ECOWAS, focusing on uniting and empowering young people and local communities.
Over the years, Sallu Kamuskay has been using his Techno phone to be able to tell stories, the phone he used to tell the story of Gbessay during Ebola who was admitted at one of the Ebola Treatment Centers after rumours that she had Ebola when the actual sickness was ulcer. Gbessay was almost abandoned at the treatment canter with no medication provided to her. She could have died. Sallu told the story via social media and was able to secure funding from the United Sierra Leone to buy her medication and advocated for her. She was later discharged and taken home. Sallu did the same for a patient that died and was abandoned in the street, Sallu Kamuskay used his phone and shared the message across. The corpse was later taken and buried. It could have been more disasterous without his voice. The story of late America Stress 3-year-old daughter. The hero’s daughter was abandon after his father’s death. He shared her sad story and was able to get a sister who has taken the child as her own and is currently providing her with educational support.
