Former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Samuel Sam-Sumana, has paid tribute to Nigeria for its contributions to restoring peace in his country, declaring that the sacrifices made by Nigerian troops during the civil war would never be forgotten.
Sam-Sumana made the remarks in Abuja when the leadership of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) paid him a courtesy visit.
He described Nigeria as a big brother in West Africa and called for stronger commitment to peace, accountability and Africa’s economic independence.
The former vice-president expressed gratitude to Nigeria for deploying troops and providing other forms of support during Sierra Leone’s civil war, noting that military personnel and civilians paid the ultimate price in the pursuit of peace and stability.
He urged political leaders across Africa to embrace peaceful competition and ensure that personal ambitions do not undermine national stability.
On the role of the media, Sam-Sumana called on journalists to hold public officials accountable through fair, accurate and constructive reporting, particularly on defence and national security issues.
Addressing Africa’s development challenges, he advocated greater economic independence through industrialisation, local production and value addition to the continent’s natural resources.
He urged African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign assistance, expand employment opportunities for young people and strengthen their representation in international decision-making institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council.
Sam-Sumana also encouraged journalists to challenge negative perceptions of Africa by highlighting the continent’s development priorities, opportunities and achievements.
Earlier, DECAN President, Odita Sunday, said the visit was to appreciate the former vice-president for accepting the association’s invitation and participating in the DECAN Conference and Awards 2026.
Sunday noted that Sam-Sumana’s participation underscored the importance of strengthening relationships among defence journalists, military institutions and international stakeholders.
He reaffirmed DECAN’s commitment to professional defence reporting, constructive engagement with security institutions and the dissemination of credible information on defence and national security.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for veteran defence correspondents, Kingsley Omonobi and Molly Kilete, to share their experiences covering the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
They recounted the devastating impact of the conflicts on affected communities and the challenges journalists encountered while reporting from conflict zones.
The engagement ended with renewed calls for peace, accountability and cooperation among political leaders, the media and security institutions to promote stability and sustainable development across Africa.
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