Lawyer Abu-bakarr Sheriff Certified in Road Safety Governance by Johns Hopkins

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
In a remarkable stride toward strengthening Africa’s road safety leadership, Abu-bakarr Sheriff Esq., Secretary to the Authority and Board of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), has successfully completed an Executive Road Safety Leadership Course hosted in Mombasa, Kenya, under the auspices of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The course, which concluded on Friday, November 7, 2025, brought together 43 senior road safety officials from seven African countries, marking the third cohort of a globally respected leadership program designed to empower policymakers with the skills to design, advocate for, and implement effective road safety strategies across the continent.
Jointly organized by the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (IIRU), the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), and the Initiative for Global Road Safety, with generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the training emphasized leadership development, strategic planning, evidence-based policymaking, and data-driven solutions to reduce road crash fatalities and injuries.
Conducted through a blend of online and in-person sessions from September to November 2025, the course focused on promoting the safe systems approach — a model that emphasizes shared responsibility among policymakers, engineers, designers, and transport decision-makers to ensure safer mobility for all.
According to Dr. Abdulgafoor Bachani, Director of the Johns Hopkins IIRU, hosting the program in Africa for the first time and catering exclusively to African participants represented a landmark in the region’s quest to strengthen its leadership and coordination in road safety.
“This program equips senior road safety leaders with the tools to deliver measurable impact,” said Dr. Bachani.
“We hope these discussions will inspire lasting partnerships and accelerate progress toward safer, more resilient transport systems.”
Through the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), Bloomberg Philanthropies continues to partner with governments and non-state actors globally to strengthen road safety legislation, enhance data systems, and promote interventions that reduce road trauma.
Participants of the course pledged to translate the knowledge acquired into actionable strategies that align national efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 3.6, which seeks to halve global road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
Reflecting on the significance of the training, Abu-bakarr Sheriff Esq. described the experience as a transformative one that has deepened his theoretical understanding and practical insight into effective road safety management.
“The course has enriched my understanding of the various theoretical frameworks to road safety management and administration,” Sheriff said.
“It also equipped me with strategic leadership skills on how to engage stakeholders toward a mutually desired goal of reducing road accident trauma and burden.”
He further expressed gratitude to the organizers, sponsors, and particularly to SLRSA Executive Director, Mr. James B. Bio, for facilitating his participation, stating that he remains committed to sharing the knowledge gained with his colleagues and applying it to Sierra Leone’s road safety initiatives.
“The exposure from interacting with road safety experts and policymakers across the continent has broadened my capability to support innovative, evidence-based solutions to the country’s road safety challenges,” he added.
The Executive Leadership Course stands as part of a broader global effort to equip senior policymakers and practitioners with the tools and collaborative networks necessary to build safer transport systems — a crucial step for
countries like Sierra Leone, where road traffic injuries continue to pose significant social and economic burdens.