Meet Ing. Emmanuel B. A. Lansana: Newly Appointed SLMA Deputy Executive Director
Emmanuel B. A. Lansana’s journey is a testament to the power of dedication, innovation, and lifelong learning. With a career spanning about 20 years, Emmanuel has consistently demonstrated his ability to leverage technology and innovative approach to drive development in both private and public sectors.
An Excellent Scholar:
Emmanuel’s academic prowess was evident from an early age, culminating in his recognition as the Best Candidate (Nationwide) in the 1998 O’ Level Exams. His thirst for knowledge led him to Fourah Bay College, where he graduated with First Class Honours in Civil Engineering, earning the title of Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Engineering in 2005. He later went on to lecture in the same faculty from 2006 to 2009 where he inspired and mentored many students.
Emmanuel’s academic journey continued with a DAAD Scholarship to the University of Applied Sciences in Stuttgart, Germany, where he completed his Master’s in Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, seamlessly blending his civil engineering background with cutting-edge geospatial technologies.
A Pioneering Professional:
Emmanuel’s career trajectory showcases his versatility and leadership in both public and private sectors. From his early days as a Site Engineer in the construction industry to his role as Director of Technology and Information Management at the National Minerals Agency, Emmanuel has consistently pushed the boundaries to achieve his career goals.
His tenure at the Sierra Leone Roads Authority saw him contribute significantly to the development of a Pavement Maintenance Management Programme, revolutionizing road maintenance planning and budgeting. At the then London Mining Company, Emmanuel’s innovative approach to community relations and data management earned him rapid promotion and recognition for his integrity and solution-driven mindset.
Emmanuel’s crowning achievement came at the National Minerals Agency (NMA), where he led the development of an enterprise Geoscientific Information Management System (eGIMS), a project that was funded by the World Bank and launched by His Excellency the President in May 2021. The eGIMS has since been used as the main platform to power several digital tools at the NMA, some of which are currently being rolled out including, but not limited to:
Marine Draught Survey tool for determining the tonnage of bulk minerals from large-scale mining operators at ports of shipment for accurate calculation of royalties and assessment fees
Artisanal Mine Monitoring tool for monitoring the operations of artisanal mining and collection of useful statistics on environment, health and safety, ASM production figures, labour segmentation, illegal operations, etc
Mineral Trading Tracker for monitoring mineral trading activities such as mineral purchase, mineral sales, etc
Precious Mineral Export Tracker for monitoring export of precious minerals through the airport
and more.
Emmanuel’s strategic vision and technical expertise were also instrumental in Sierra Leone’s first ever nationwide Airborne Geophysical Survey in 2019-2020 where his unwavering integrity and professional competence earned him the trust of managing all the airborne geophysical survey data – a critical national asset.
Emmanuel also made significant contributions to the in-house development of the NMA Strategic Plan 2020-2025 and the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2023.
Regional Impact and Volunteerism:
Emmanuel’s commitment to progress extends beyond national borders. As a key technical working group member, he played a vital role in the development of the ‘ECOWAS Geo-extractives Database & Statistical Information Reporting Framework’ in Lome, Togo (May 2019) and the ‘ECOWAS Geo-extractives Observatory & Cadastre System’ in Lagos, Nigeria (August 2019).
During the Ebola crisis in 2014-2015, Emmanuel volunteered to provide critical information management support to the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) through URISA’s GISCorps, a team of nearly 10,000 GIS professionals from 145 countries volunteering for a better world. This demonstrates his dedication to using his skills for humanitarian causes.
Visionary Leadership and Mentorship:
Throughout his career, Emmanuel has been known for his ability to inspire and develop talent. His passion for mentoring young professionals and fostering a culture of innovation will be a cornerstone of his leadership at the Maritime Administration. Emmanuel brings along a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and a passion for national development. His vision for the new assignment is to support the Executive Director in rebranding the country’s maritime sector to deliver on the President’s mandate. Together, we will deliver!