Phillip Sam Bangura Memorial Building Fund
Phillip Samuel (Sam) Bangura was the third of four kids born to the late Bishop Thomas Bangura, and Mrs. Regina Bangura. Sam got his initial education in Akron Ohio and New York where both his mom and dad were students in the United States. After his parents graduated and went back to Sierra Leone, Sam continued his primary school education at the Fergusson Street Municipal School, and went to secondary (high) school at the Albert Academy.
Whilst in sixth form at the Albert Academy, Sam was appointed senior prefect. During this period, both Sam and Jimmy Kandeh spearheaded the “No College No School” demonstration against the ruling APC party led by the late Siaka Probyn Stevens (An alumnus of the school). This demonstration mushroomed and became a countrywide demonstration (with over 10,000 students participating), and it severely impacted the government, and eventually led to schools closing for a long period while the government and students at the Fourah Bay College came to an agreement on how students should be treated and on how to diffuse the situation.
After sixth form, Sam went to the United States where he attended Kent State University. While a student at Kent, he held several positions on campus, served in the Black United Students Organization, and was the first African to hold an executive position in the Student Council.
His final position at Kent was Manager of Operations for the Student Center. Sam graduated with a Masters in Political Science, and later, moved to Atlanta, Georgia. While in Atlanta, Sam worked for Benning Construction. While at Benning, his boss (Ted Benning JR) saw Sam’s potential as a leader, and offered to pay for him to attend Haggai Institute for Leadership in Hawaii. After graduating from Haggai and returning back to Benning Construction, Ted was instrumental in convincing Sam to go back to Sierra Leone and serve his people. Sam took the challenge and went back home.
Once in Sierra Leone, Sam worked as Executive Director for PAPA, and in November, 2010, took up an appointment as Policy Adviser to the First Lady on a PRO BONO basis (For the good of the public without compensation) until his passing in October, 2015. While working as Policy Adviser, Sam was responsible for writing the Speeches for the First Lady, and also helped to run the office on a day to day basis while the First Lady was away. Sam was very instrumental in setting up the Dialysis Unit at the Connaught hospital, and helped with the initial preparation of a Cancer Unit in conjunction with The Greatest Goal Ministries of The United States of America. Sam also edited and published a book based on sermons by his dad.
