By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Warima, Sierra Leone — In a heartfelt act of generosity and vision, internationally acclaimed statistician and academic leader Professor Osman Sankoh, also known as Mallam O., has inaugurated a public library and bookshop in his hometown of Warima. This initiative, more than a decade in the making, marks a milestone in education and literary access for the rural community and its surrounding areas.
The project was formally unveiled on Sunday, July 27, 2025, with Professor Sankoh describing the facilities not just as structures, but as “symbols of hope and opportunity.” Having grown up in Warima without access to such educational resources, Sankoh emphasized his desire to give back meaningfully, stating:
“In my heart, I always knew I would return to Warima in some meaningful way.”
The library offers free public access to educational materials, while the adjacent bookshop serves as a hub for Sierra Leonean literature.
Central to the bookshop’s mission is the Sierra Leonean Writers Series (SLWS), the publishing house Sankoh founded in 2001. SLWS, now the nation’s largest, offers free publishing opportunities to writers of all backgrounds — promoting inclusion and cultural diversity. Its presence in Warima opens doors for local authors and encourages young readers to engage in stories that reflect their lives.
“I imagined children in Warima walking into a bookshop filled with SLWS books—seeing stories that reflect their lives, discovering their own voices, and believing they, too, can be authors,” Sankoh shared.
The public library aims to serve as a sanctuary for students and curious minds, providing access to tools that Professor Sankoh lacked during his own academic journey. Reflecting from his office in Accra, Ghana — where the idea was first conceived — he pondered:
“How much further could I have gone if I had had a library as a child?” This project, he says, is about breaking the cycle of limited opportunity and building a legacy of empowerment.
Beyond his publishing and academic accolades, Sankoh continues to champion community development and cultural preservation. He calls on fellow Sierra Leoneans — particularly those abroad — to follow his lead: “Please go to your village and do what you can to give back.”
Through this initiative, Mallam O. is planting seeds of literacy and inspiration that will shape future generations. The young people of Warima, once hindered by lack of resources, now have a gateway to the world of books — and the power to imagine, learn, and lead.