Sia Koroma
Encyclopedia
Sia Nyama Koroma is a Sierra Leonean biochemist
and psychiatric nurse
. She is the wife of Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma
and the daughter of former Sierra Leone's attorney general
Abu Aiah Koroma
. she is currently the First Lady
of Sierra She holds a Master of Science
in Organic Chemistry
from the University of London
and a Bachelor of Science
in Nursing
from the University of London and Fourah Bay College
in Freetown
. Sia Koroma is a native of Kono District
in Eastern Sierra Leone and a member of the Kono
ethnic group
. She is the mother of two daughters, Alice and Danke Koroma.
, Kono District
into a wealthy prominent political family. Her mother Danke Koroma was a school teacher in Yengema and her father Abu Aiah Koroma
(November 28, 1928 - March 6, 2005) was a Lawyer
, and was Sierra Leone Attorney General
from 1967 to 1968 under president Siaka Stevens
. Aiah Koroma served as the Managing Director of the National Diamond Mining Company based in Kono District from 1976 to 1987. Abu Aiah Koroma was also a Presidential candidate in the 1996 Sierra Leone presidential elections; he won only 4.9% of the vote.
Sia Koroma spent her early years at various primary schools around Sierra Leone as her Father was being posted from one place to another. For Secondary education, she settled at the Annie Walsh Secondary School in Freetown
where she graduated as a Science student in 1976.
She proceeded to London
for further studies which culminated in her gaining a Masters in Organic Chemistry. She started her working life at the Sierra Leone Petroleum Refinery where she rose to the position of Chief Chemist. Her duties at the Petroleum Refinery included routine quality control of petroleum products, management of subordinate staff team and other senior management responsibilities.
In February 2008, during a visit to the UK by the President and First Lady, the KT Sierra Leone Fellowship hosted a special service of thanksgiving for Sierra Leone. The special guest of honour was Mrs Sia Koroma.
The congregation which included Sierra Leone's High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner and other dignitaries was addressed by Pastor Amanda Dye. This is a brief recount of Sia's remarkable transformation from a servant in ministry to be the First Lady of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's New First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma is a woman of substance but with a humble disposition despite her admirable life achievements. Although she hails from the most prominent political family in Kono District in Sierra Leone, prior to now, the highly educated Sia Koroma never sought the limelight but quietly stayed in the background, strategically supporting her husband's political ambitions. Sia's deep faith and conviction as a born-again Christian has been well documented over the past few months as she has settled into her new official role.
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
and psychiatric nurse
Psychiatric and mental health nursing
Psychiatric nursing or mental health nursing is the specialty of nursing that cares for people of all ages with mental illness or mental distress, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression or dementia...
. She is the wife of Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over...
and the daughter of former Sierra Leone's attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Abu Aiah Koroma
Abu Aiah Koroma
Abu Aiah Koroma was a lawyer and politician in Sierra Leone. Koroma began his political career as Attorney General in 1967 and 1968. He returned to government in 1976 when he became Managing Director of the National Diamond Mining Company until 1987. In 1991 and 1992, Koroma was the Minister of...
. she is currently the First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Sierra She holds a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Organic Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
from the University of London and Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
. Sia Koroma is a native of Kono District
Kono District
Kono District is a district in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Koidu Town. The other major towns in the district include Yengema, Tombodu, Motema, Jaiama-Nimokoro and Sewafe. Kono District is the largest diamond producer in Sierra Leone.The population of Kono...
in Eastern Sierra Leone and a member of the Kono
Kono people
The Kono people is a major ethnic group in Sierra Leone at about 7.6% of the country's total population. Their homeland is the diamond-rich Kono District in south-eastern Sierra Leone. They form by far the single largest ethnic group in the district at about 52% of the population...
ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
. She is the mother of two daughters, Alice and Danke Koroma.
Biography
Sia Nyama Koroma was born on March 19, 1958 in YengemaYengema
Yengema is the second largest town in Kono District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, lying about 18 miles west of Koidu Town , and about 264 miles east of Freetown. The major industry in Yengema is diamond mining. The town had a population of 3,621 in the 2004 census, with a 2007 estimate...
, Kono District
Kono District
Kono District is a district in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Koidu Town. The other major towns in the district include Yengema, Tombodu, Motema, Jaiama-Nimokoro and Sewafe. Kono District is the largest diamond producer in Sierra Leone.The population of Kono...
into a wealthy prominent political family. Her mother Danke Koroma was a school teacher in Yengema and her father Abu Aiah Koroma
Abu Aiah Koroma
Abu Aiah Koroma was a lawyer and politician in Sierra Leone. Koroma began his political career as Attorney General in 1967 and 1968. He returned to government in 1976 when he became Managing Director of the National Diamond Mining Company until 1987. In 1991 and 1992, Koroma was the Minister of...
(November 28, 1928 - March 6, 2005) was a Lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and was Sierra Leone Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
from 1967 to 1968 under president Siaka Stevens
Siaka Stevens
Siaka Probyn Stevens was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967–1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971–1985. Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods of government in which many of his political opponents were executed, as well as for mismanaging...
. Aiah Koroma served as the Managing Director of the National Diamond Mining Company based in Kono District from 1976 to 1987. Abu Aiah Koroma was also a Presidential candidate in the 1996 Sierra Leone presidential elections; he won only 4.9% of the vote.
Sia Koroma spent her early years at various primary schools around Sierra Leone as her Father was being posted from one place to another. For Secondary education, she settled at the Annie Walsh Secondary School in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
where she graduated as a Science student in 1976.
She proceeded to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for further studies which culminated in her gaining a Masters in Organic Chemistry. She started her working life at the Sierra Leone Petroleum Refinery where she rose to the position of Chief Chemist. Her duties at the Petroleum Refinery included routine quality control of petroleum products, management of subordinate staff team and other senior management responsibilities.
As First Lady
In September 2007, after a two-round election, Ernest Bai Koroma, a former insurance executive with no previous track record in politics, became the new President of Sierra Leone. His wife Sia Nyama Koroma who is a KT member was suddenly swept from being an 'ordinary' wife, mother and professional to be the First Lady of the country.In February 2008, during a visit to the UK by the President and First Lady, the KT Sierra Leone Fellowship hosted a special service of thanksgiving for Sierra Leone. The special guest of honour was Mrs Sia Koroma.
The congregation which included Sierra Leone's High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner and other dignitaries was addressed by Pastor Amanda Dye. This is a brief recount of Sia's remarkable transformation from a servant in ministry to be the First Lady of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's New First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma is a woman of substance but with a humble disposition despite her admirable life achievements. Although she hails from the most prominent political family in Kono District in Sierra Leone, prior to now, the highly educated Sia Koroma never sought the limelight but quietly stayed in the background, strategically supporting her husband's political ambitions. Sia's deep faith and conviction as a born-again Christian has been well documented over the past few months as she has settled into her new official role.