ABU-HASSAN “ASKIA” KOROMA – CHAIRMAN & PRESIDENT
Abu-Hassan Koroma (Askia) is the Chairman of the 2015/2016 CeOSA Interim Board of Directors. Askia attended the UBC Primary School in Mattru Jong from class 1 – 7 and entered Centennial Secondary School during the 1975/76 academic year with admission number 2031. He was a member of Baker House. Askia graduated in 1979/80.
At Centennial, Askia maintained consistent leadership from Class Monitor in Form 1A, Student Council Member in Forms 2 & 3 and, Senior Prefect for the 1979/80 academic years as well as House Captain for Baker House during the same period.
Askia holds a verified certificate with distinction in Social Entrepreneurship from the Copenhagen Business School through Coursera and, a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the UW-Madison. He also holds a Higher Teacher’s Certificate (HTC) in Art & Crafts from the Milton Margai Teachers College (now Milton Margai College of Education and Technology) in Sierra Leone.
Social Entrepreneur, Teacher, Humanist, Artist and Poet, Askia’s painting – The Orange Seller – was exhibited at the Porter Butts Gallery, “67Th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition”, UW-Madison in 1996 and his poem, “Waters of Wisconsin,” was published in the Spring 2003 Wisconsin Academy Review. Askia was also a nominated Wisconsin semi-finalist in the 5th Annual Volvo for life Awards in 2007.
Askia is married and has four children – Nina Lydia-Hassan, Abu-Hassan, Akibu-Hassan, and Seif-Hassan.
ROSALINE JOSEPHINE (CONTEH) VINCENT
Rosaline Conteh was born at Largo Ja-sa-wai-bu in the Kenema District to Ruben J. Conteh and Madam Janet Gbonda, both of blessed memory. She started schooling at the UMC primary school in Kenema. However, due to the nature of her father’s job, Rosaline transferred to Njala experimental and finally, to the UMC Ginger Hall in Freetown, where she took her Selective Entrance Examination and passed for the Methodist Girls High School. Rosaline spent a year at the Methodist Girls High School in Freetown and then transferred to the Centennial Secondary in Mattru Jong. After her graduation from Centennial Secondary School, Rosaline went to the Freetown Teachers College and received her Teacher’s Certificate. She taught at the Cathedral Girls School for five years.
At the height of the Sierra Leone civil war, Rosaline migrated to The Gambia in 1995 where she attended the Banjul Bible College, graduating with a Diploma in Theology while at the same time building a fruitful and flourishing design and sewing business, a supplemental occupation she had developed in Sierra Leone. In Banjul, Rosaline worked with the Medical Research Center and did a lot of custom design dresses for locals as well as expatriates.
Rosaline has been living in the United States since 1997 and has worked for the Center for the Retarded and, the Covenant House in Texas. She is currently working on starting her design and sewing business in the United States.
CHARLES KENNETH CONTEH
Charles Kenneth Conteh (CKC) is a Minister of Word. Commonly known to Centennial Secondary School (CSS), Mattru Jong alumni as CKC, Charles is originally from Bonthe. He attended the UMC Primary School in Bonthe and entered CSS from 1972 through 1977. After graduating from CSS, Charles worked briefly at the General Post Office in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Charles came to the United States to study at the Southeastern University in Washington, DC and, at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.
At the gentle direction of the Almighty God, Charles attained his Bachelors Degree at Bethel University of Biblical Studies and later achieved a graduate Degree in Psychology & Counseling at the National Bible College in Maryland. Charles is a Board Member of the Centennial Old Students Association (CeOSA) North America and also Chapter Chairman for the Washington Metro Area. He is the Pioneer and Chairman of the CeOSA “One Thousand Dollar Club.”
Rev. Charles K. Conteh is also the Host of CeOSA “Day of Fasting, Hour of Praise & Prayer,” a Quarterly Program dedicated to thanking God for CeOSA and its journey from the Missionaries to the present. Charles is married with three amazing, beautiful children. To God be the Glory. Amen!
