The Union of Sierra Leonean Organizations in New York State and the Senator of New York State ‘s 23rd District, Mr.Diane J. Servino, have given the Publisher of Cocorioko , Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu two more career-defining awards. While USLO gave the Cocorioko Publisher a Certificate of Appreciation, the New York State Senator gave him a Certificate of Recognition. The awards were delivered to the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York yesterday by the President of USLO , Mr. Ahmed Kargbo.
AWARD -WINNING JOURNALIST KABS-KANU
These certificates are the fifth and sixth awards won by the Publisher of one of Sierra Leone’s biggest and most widely read newspapers , having previously been honoured in 1974 by the Fourah Bay College Student Union Government led by Mr.Kemoh Sulimani Snr and in 2003 by the New York Chapter of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP ) for exemplary community service as a journalist ; 2008 by the National Organization of Sierra Leoneans in North America ( NOSLINA ) and in April this year by the 50th Independence Anniversary Committee for outstanding Journalism and community service .
USLO, in its Certificate of Appreciation, said it was awarding the certificate to Mr. Kabs-Kanu “In recognition of your contribution and support given to USLO and the Sierra Leone Community by bringing focus to our cause during the historic events marking the 50th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone in New York State “. Senator Diane Servino, in her Certificate of Recognition to Mr.Kabs-Kanu on behalf of New York State ‘s 23rd District, noted that the award is “In recognition of your outstanding service to our great city and state , and for your great contributions to our community. A great state is only as great as those individuals who perform exemplary service on behalf of their community and contribute positively to that environment .. “, the American lawmaker went on.
SOME OF THE BIG BRAINS OF USLO : FROM LEFT ARE AHMED KARGBO, ZAINABU SESAY-HARREL AND SENTU JOHNSON
Receiving the Awards , the Rev. Kabs-Kanu extended thanks and appreciation to USLO and U.S Senator Diane J. Servino for appreciating and recognizing his efforts and by implication the magnificent work being done by the Cocorioko team as a news organization committed to the noble task of providing quality information for the betterment of society .He said that Cocorioko was founded in 1973 on the campus of Fourah Bay College, the University once known as the Athens of West Africa as an media organ for the regeneration and rebranding of society .”We concentrate on publications that help to empower people, organizations, institutions and governments working tirelessly to improve the well-being of mankind “, he added. He stated that what these awards have done for him is to convince him to the bottom of his heart and soul that his efforts are highly appreciated by the people and the institutions that matter in society. He said he and staff will be highly motivated by these awards to continue to give off their best to help remake the world through journalism and mass communications. “These awards are also steadily building up our profile and providing a stupendous platform for COCORIOKO to continue to rise as a world-reknowned news media ” , he went on. He said that right now Cocorioko is listed by NIGERIA MASTERWEB as one of the most favourite news organizations in Nigeria. He thanked all those working with him for their indescribable and positive contributions to the growth and recognition of the newspaper.
FLASHBACK , SATURDAY APRIL 30 ,2011 DURING THE NEW YORK 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY DANCE -FROM LEFT : LYN FISHER (THE AMERICAN FILM MAKER PRESENTLY PRODUCING A DOCUMENTARY ON SIERRA LEONE, KABS KANU, RUGIATU BAH AND ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF USLO
USLO is a huge organization that is an umbrella entity to many other organizations in New York. It is an amalgamation of the following other big and important organizations
- Sierra Leone Charity Inc,
- Sierra Big Apple Football Club, founded by former international soccer maestro , Sentu Johnson
- The Sierra Leone National Association
- The Sierra Leone Nurses Association New York Chapter
- Tegloma New York Chapter
- The United States/Sierra Leone Association
- United Women’s Association
- Young Boys En Young Girls
USLO recently held some of the best programs commemorating Sierra Leone’s 50th Independence Anniversary and was in turn given an award for its fantastic service to Sierra Leone and to the community by the Jubilee Awards Committee and the Sierra Leone Embassy to the United States . The driving forces behind the organization include Mr.Ahmed Kargbo , the former soccer star Sentu Johnson and nurses Zainabu Sesay-Harrel , Rugiatu Bah and others.
The biography of Senator Servino in the U.S. Senate website gave this information about her :
SENATOR DIANE SAVINO
Diane Savino has dedicated her entire professional career towards improving the lives of working families. She began her career in public service as a caseworker for New York City’s Child Welfare Administration, providing direct assistance to abused and neglected children.
An active member of her local labor union, the Social Service Employees Union, Local 371, DC 37 of AFSCME, she quickly rose through the ranks to become the Vice President for Political Action & Legislative Affairs, where she became one of the most respected labor leaders in New York State.
As a labor official, she actively and successfully campaigned for an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15—the first raise for New Yorkers in over a decade.
In 2004, she was elected to represent the 23rd Senatorial District, encompassing the North Shore of Staten Island and portions of Brooklyn, including Borough Park, Coney Island, Bensonhurst, and Sunset Park.
In their endorsement of Senator Savino, the New York Times described her as “scrappy and effective”. Her dedication to her constituents earned her the Staten Island Advance’s “strongest endorsement for a third term”, saying “no lawmaker works harder and no lawmaker commits herself to the fight for her constituents more than Ms. Savino”.
Senator Savino has passed important legislation, including a law that ended the 5-year statute of limitation on sexual assault, a bill establishing a task force for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer, the Olive Oil Labeling Bill, which prohibits additives in virgin olive oil, the Prompt Pay Bill, which ensures prompt payment to construction contractors and their employees and a cost-of-living increase in the death benefit for widows and widowers of police officers and fire fighters killed in the line of duty.
THE UNION OF SIERRA LEONE ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW YORK also honored the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, Ambassador Shekou M.Touray and many distinguished personalities .WE WILL BRING YOU THE DETAILS .
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