Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 23, 2025– Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, widely known as “De Monk,” was officially inaugurated as Chairman of All Works of Life (AWOL) at a ceremony held at Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr.’s residence in Freetown. The event also marked the installation of AWOL’s newly appointed executive, signaling what Nasralla called a recommitment to “selflessness, patience, diligence, respect, and above all, service to nation without seeking reward.”
Delivering his welcome address, Nasralla opened by framing the gathering as “a joyful occasion,” and said, “Tonight, I stand before you not just as Chairman of this powerful movement, but as a proud product of its ideals.”
In his speech, Nasralla revisited AWOL’s founding, dating back to 2001/2002 in the aftermath of Sierra Leone’s civil war. “AWOL was not born out of vanity or political ambition, it was inspired,” he said. He recalled that the organization was officially launched by former President Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, who described AWOL as “an idea that was in line with a United Nations self-help project.”
“That to give back is not just noble, it is necessary,” Nasralla quoted the late president as saying. “From this soil of shared sacrifice, AWOL was born.”
Reflecting on AWOL’s two-decade legacy, Nasralla said, “We became a mirror that reflects the goodness in our society, a beacon of appreciation for those who serve without ever being seen.”
Since the inaugural National Achievement Awards in 2002, AWOL has honoured a wide range of citizens. “We have celebrated: the petty trader at Kroo Town Road Market who puts her children through school from the profit of a dozen cups of rice; the brave police officer, soldier, firefighter, and correctional service officer who stand between us and danger daily; the best-performing ministers, members of parliament, and heads of parastatals, who serve the nation with excellence,” he said.
Also included were business leaders, farmers, pupils who excel in national exams, and creatives. “Each award we have handed out over the years has been a thank you to those who too often go unthanked. And we have done it with no gate/entrance fees, no expectations, no strings attached.”
Beyond awards, Nasralla described how AWOL has taken direct action in communities across the country. “Every June 16th, Day of the African Child, AWOL brought food, smiles, and awards to underprivileged schools, showing children that someone sees them, believes in them, and is rooting for their future.”
He continued: “When disaster struck, be it the Ebola outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic, or floods and mudslides, or the ravaging fire at Fogbo village, AWOL stood up, stepped in, and supported both affected communities and government efforts.”
He said what AWOL brought above all else was “hope. And in return, we asked for nothing. Not even thanks.”
Nasralla paid tribute to founding members and former leaders of AWOL. “Let us pause to remember the pioneers: Ambassador Gibril Moseray Fadika, our first and unforgettable Godfather, who gave his all for this organization and this country.”
He also honored past chairmen, including Mustapha Adams, the late Moseray Fadika, the late Mohamed Laho Jalloh, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, Hon. Chernor R.M. Bah, Kweku M.S. Lisk, and Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr. He added: “Not forgetting our first female Vice Chairperson of AWOL, Madam Yabome Lansana.”
He praised them as “men of vision, courage, and unwavering dedication who steered AWOL through its formative years and kept the fire burning even in the toughest of times.”
Sharing his personal journey, Nasralla said, “For over a decade, I served as Secretary General of AWOL, the longest-serving in our history, with the nickname Sec Gen 4 Life, under all previous Chairmen.”
“I gave not what I had in riches, for I had little, but I gave my heart, my time, my talent, my loyalty, and my respect. I served with joy, I served in silence, and I served with dignity.”
That experience, he said, prepared him for leadership at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists. “Leadership is not a position, it is a mission,” he added.
“As your new AWOL Chairman, I renew that commitment. Not to a title, but to a task, to bring this house back to more order, to reignite the flame of self-help, and to rally every Sierra Leonean, at home and abroad, around the green, white, and blue.”
Turning to AWOL’s members, Nasralla said, “AWOL is not built on money or fame, it is built on faith, dedication, and belief in a simple ideology: If each of us does a little, our country will rise a lot.”
“To our members who never stopped believing, even when the lights dimmed, even when the drums went silent; you are the soul of AWOL. You kept the faith, and tonight, we light the torch again: together.”
Nasralla announced that there will be no National Achievement Awards this year, but the organization is preparing for a strong return. “We will organize a full Annual General Meeting (AGM), including the participation of our international chapters, to take stock and chart our course,” he said.
Plans also include a December “AWOL Comeback Dinner,” strengthening diaspora ties, and expanding community outreach. “We will stay true to our founding values: to give without expectation, to complement government efforts, and to be fiercely apolitical; loyal only to the people and the flag of Sierra Leone.”
He reminded the incoming team: “This is a calling, not a position. A call to serve. A call to uplift. A call to be the difference our country needs.”
As he closed, Nasralla looked across the room and saw not just attendees but fellow patriots. “Let us walk this path together, with love, with sacrifice, and with unity. Let us be the bridge between what Sierra Leone is, and what Sierra Leone can be. Let us be AWOL. All ‘Works’ of Life. All ‘Works’ for Life.”
