Former President of Sierra Leone yesterday accepted to chair the maiden edition of Concord Times' annual lecture designed to commemorate the death of James Oguoguo, the newspaper's former editor.

Oguoguo was abducted and killed by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels on the 6th of January 1999 during their invasion of Freetown.

In the acceptance letter from Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, signed by his Confidential Secretary, Haja Khadijatu A. Mahdi, the former president acknowledged the receipt of Concord Times' invitation letter and conveyed his acceptance to chair the event.

President Ernest Bai Koroma has been invited to open the lecture themed: 'Challenges of Good Governance in Post-Conflict Democracy' which is slated for August 15, 2008 at the Miatta conference hall.

Former President of Liberia, Professor Amos Sawyer, who is also a strong advocate for good governance, has been invited to deliver the lecture.

He was an Associate Professor of Political Science and later became the Dean of College of Social Science and Humanities at the University of Liberia (1980-1984).

Professor Sawyer is also a founding member of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) and started a social and political research institute called the Center for Democratic Empowerment (CEDE) that organizes conferences and studies on many critical issues facing post-war Liberia.

The lecture is expected to present an opportunity for Sierra Leoneans to raise their level of national discourse as they dialogue on challenges facing the nation and how these can be surmounted.

The occasion would be above partisan politicking but send an effective message of the need for unity of purpose to the rest of the grassroots population.

The event will be used to showcase Concord Times' 16th year anniversary of unbroken service as a trailblazer in modern day journalism in Sierra Leone.