Sia Koroma

Sia Nyama Koroma (born Sia Nyama in Kono District, Sierra Leone) is a Bio-Chemist {msc); the wife of Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma and current First Lady of Sierra Leone. She is a member of the Kono ethnic group.

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.

Only a few months earlier, she was at the heart of the vision and ministry of Kensington Temple, and also very much involved in organising the Sierra Leone independence day celebrations at KT.

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.

She fled Sierra Leone with her family during the high of the rebel war in 1997. She is a dedicated wife - married to Ernest since 18/10/1986 - and mother of two daughters, Alice and Danke.

Born in the late fifties to the famed Kono politician Abu Aiah Koroma and his wife Danke Koroma, she had her education in Sierra Leone and in the United Kingdom. She is a proud alumni of the Annie Walsh Memorial School in Freetown and holds a Bachelor of Science first degree with Honours in Chemistry, a Masters in Organic Chemistry. She is also a Psychiatric Staff Nurse trained and qualified in Great Britain.

Prior to seeking refuge in the United Kingdom, she was Chief Chemist at the Kissy Oil Refinery with a very technical mandate such as testing samples of all petroleum lubricants and fluids before they were used in Sierra Leone. After the refinery shut down she provided private consultancy to the World Bank in Sierra Leone until the family had to flee in the country.