Honouring the Legacy of PJ Mandewa Cole through the PJ Mandewa Cole Leadership & Innovation Fellowship, a living tribute to a man whose life was a masterclass in service, leadership and visionary action.
Philip Joel Mandewa Cole, PJ, wasn’t just a leader in innovation. He was a leader in service. From helping former child soldiers to leading in an Ebola clinic, to shaping digital governance at The Directorate of Science , Technology and Innovation, and Tony Blair Institute (TBI), PJ lived a life rooted in compassion, courage, and purpose. To those who knew him, PJ was humble, brilliant, kind, and quietly radical.
To those who never met him, this fellowship will be the start of knowing the kind of leader he was. This fellowship is not only about remembering PJ, but about continuing what he started.
Each year, it will select outstanding young Sierra Leoneans aged 18–35, those who lead with heart, innovate with courage, and serve with purpose.
Fellows will receive:
1. Mentorship from respected leaders in innovation, policy, and social impact
2. Leadership training grounded in service, ethics, and community engagement
3. Seed support to design and launch a real-world project that addresses a critical issue in their community
May his memory remind us that:
Leadership is not a position.
Innovation is not a luxury.
Service is not optional.
May his legacy live on, not just in words, but in action.
Not just in remembrance, but in the lives changed because of what he stood for. His legacy isn’t just what he left behind. It’s what he made possible, for others to carry forward. And because of him, so many more will be too.
