The Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, Mr. Jihad N. Eter, and other government dignitaries are expected to receive participants in the Budapest-Bamako Rally 2024 in Freetown, dubbed the world’s largest amateur vehicular rally, which returns to Sierra Leone twice this year.
Mr. Jihad N. Eter said he would like to use this golden opportunity to thank His Excellency the president for rebranding the image of our beloved country, Sierra Leone, at every given opportunity, all in the spirit of patriotism and nationalism, adding that this has clearly demonstrated the love, willingness, and commitment of His Excellency the president to the people of Sierra Leone.
The Hungarian Consul registers his great respect and admiration for the hardworking Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Tunis, whose contribution in the tourism sector has been excellent since she assumed that office. He noted that the Minister’s vision for Sierra Leone to be the hub of tourism and one of the best touristic destinations in the world is extremely encouraging.
“With all the negative global challenges like the war in Ukraine and Gaza and the rising economic hardship that have hampered the smooth visits of so many tourists all over the world, the minister still manages to convince many to come and visit our beautiful touristic sites in Sierra Leone. The tourists are always impressed with our beautiful country and touristic sites, citing our comfortable weather conditions and unique natural landscapes,” the Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, Mr. Jihad N. Eter, told this press.
Mr. Jihad N. Eter disclosed that, since 2018, when he assumed the office of the Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, his office has been working very hard to further strengthen the already existing friendly relations between the Republic of Sierra Leone and Hungary. Adding that his office would ensure that it maintains bilateral relations between the two countries.
He disclosed that forty-four (44) Sierra Leonean students were successful in the 2021–2022 application to study in Hungary and another 46 in the 2022–2023 academic year. He further disclosed that in the 2023–2024 application, 760 participants have so far applied for the program this year, with 50 students to be chosen based on certain criteria for the 2024–2025 Academy Hungary scholarship. The Consul underscored how the Hungarian government plans to continue offering the aforementioned scholarships for an additional two years.
To all participants in this year’s Budapest Bamako Rally, the Honorary Consul of Hungary to Sierra Leone, Mr. Jihad N. Eter, extends a special welcome to all of them. He added that he was so pleased to see them all here at this special event.
“Thanks for your hard work and dedication to making this rally a success. I hope you will enjoy the serenity of our beautiful beaches, islands, parks, and other places in our beloved Sierra Leone. We are hopeful that this rally inspires ideas, discussions, and a willingness and commitment to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Let me say to you all that you are heartily welcome to visit Sierra Leone with your families, friends, and loved ones so that you can tell the rest of the world about the beauty of Sierra Leone and the excellent hospitality you experienced. Special thanks go to the Sierra Leone police for their relentless efforts and selfless service to provide security for us, he concluded.
The first leg of the ongoing Budapest-Bamako Rally 2024 commenced in Hungary on January 26, comprising participants who arrived over the weekend on February 11, 2024, at Bureh Beach, where a beach carnival will be organized in their honor, and later proceeded to the finish line at Gigibonta Restaurant Car Park, Lumley Beach in Sierra Leone today, February 12, 2024.
According to an official from the Tourism Ministry, they expect another batch of participants to depart Hungary on February 12, 2024, and to reach Sierra Leone on March 4, 2024.
Participants will go through a vast array of countries along the designated route to traverse 9000km from the heart of Europe to reach the finishing line on Gigibonta, thereby covering two continents and 10 countries.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs said the event will mark the world’s largest amateur rally and will return to Sierra Leone twice this year, in 2024. The Tourism Ministry further reiterated that Sierra Leone will play host to the first batch of the Budapest-Bamako-Freetown Rally Finish Line 2024 event from February 11 to 12, 2024.
Dubbed the “Budapest-Bamako-Freetown Challenge,” the Ministry highlighted that the event is the world’s largest amateur vehicular rally as well as Africa’s biggest humanitarian event.
The Minister of Tourism, Nabeela Tunis, said, “The rally comprises 670 participants, including three (3) Sierra Leoneans, with over 300 vehicles arriving in Sierra Leone through Kambia on February 11, 2024, arriving at Bureh Beach, where a beach carnival will be organized in their honor.”
On Monday, February 12, the minister went on. The teams will drive through Waterloo, Up Gun, Kissy Road, Goderich Street, Rokel Street, Siaka Stevens Street, Sanders Street, St. John, Savage Street, Congo Cross, Wilkinson Road, and Lumley Beach Road and arrive at the Finish Line, Gigibonta Restaurant car park, Lumley Beach, where the Hon. Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, the Hungarian Consul, and other state functionaries will receive them and deliver statements.
The Tourism Minister added that the second batch of 194 Budapest-Bamako-Freetown rally participants will depart Hungary on February 12 and arrive in Freetown on March 4, 2024.
She revealed how the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has embarked on a one-year “Tourism for All Campaign,” and the theme for this month of February is “Travel and Hospitality,” which resonates with the arrival of the Budapest-Bamako-Freetown Rally adventure tourists to Sierra Leone.
The Permanent Secretary of the Tourism Ministry, Edward Kwame Yankson, said: “The Budapest-Bamako-Freetown Challenge aims at actualizing His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s vision of making Sierra Leone an attractive tourist destination, creating a platform for cultural exchange, facilitating foreign direct investment, and providing job opportunities.
Andrew Szabo, the director of the Budapest-Bamako Rally, stated in an excited mood that Sierra Leone is a natural choice for the finish line, as the government and people of Sierra Leone, in the past, have been very hospitable, with the country putting a premium on the tourism industry. He expressed profound pleasure to be in Sierra Leone, disclosing how there are future plans for more finish line events to be held in Sierra Leone.
What makes this Budapest-Bamako-Freetown Challenge very exceptional is the ongoing participation of an all-Sierra Leonean team, a trio that comprises a businessman in the petroleum sector, Ibrahim Cole (IB Cole), a renowned hip-hop artist, Benjamin Menelik George, popularly known as Drizilik, and another entrepreneur, Mohamed Ibrahim Waritay (Med Iye). The three joined forces to form Team Puzzle Pieces, and their mission is geared towards supporting a charity of the same name by raising funds and awareness for autism.
Riding Car 61, the trio, Drizilik, IB Cole, and Med-Iye, are riding for autism awareness. The first leg of their journey is a 900-kilometer drive from Budapest to Milan. Puzzle Pieces is the name of IB Cole’s autism support charity, which he co-founded with his wife Nalla. IB’s vision is to create a specialized autism resource center to support families and educate teachers and the community on how to support people with autism
