By Temitope Egunjobi
Grafton, 17th July 2026- The Foundation for Rural and Urban Transformation (FoRUT) has officially turned sod for the construction of its new building in Grafton, adding a new milestone to years of serving communities.
The organisation’s Chairperson, Dr. Santigie Sesay said the decision to build was rooted in their quest to move from absolute reliance on donor funds to creating revenue streams that fund their activities. The new building will include a conference room and a provision shop as income sources.
FoRUT’s Director, Sesay, explained that the construction of their very own office will mean sums of money used to pay rent will now support community projects. He further said the construction of a building at Grafton will also create employment opportunities for people there.
“This decision reaffirms FoRUT’s alignment with sustainability and capacity building,” Sesay added.
Representing the Ministry of Lands, Senior Assistant Secretary Joe Tucker said the turning of the sod symbolizes FoRUT’s growth, which, he adds, the Ministry strongly believes in. He disclosed that they supported the building project by providing them documents and access to the land they are building on, demonstrating their belief and supporting FoRUT’s growth.
Director of NGO Affairs at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Eric Masalley, focused his address on sustainability amid shrinking sources of funding. To navigate the new reality, he encouraged NGOs to engage in social enterprises for sustainability. He also promised to make frequent visits to be up to speed with the progress of the construction.
Other attendees describe the project as marking a major step in the organization’s commitment to institutional growth and sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
