By Aminata Sesay
For the students and staff of Milton Margai Technical University, the dream of a revitalised campus promised under a $65 million loan project has turned into a harsh and painful reality of neglect, decay, and disillusionment. While millions were earmarked to transform their educational environment, what remains is a crumbling institution where basic amenities are broken, unsafe, and unusable.
This grim situation was brought to light during a recent visit by the Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, led by Opposition Chief Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (AKK). Rather than witnessing signs of progress, committee members encountered shattered windows, non-functional toilets, and filthy compounds conditions that starkly contrast with the promised modernised university facilities.
Students describe their daily life on campus as a struggle. Hostels are in disrepair, classrooms are unfit for academic work, and health facilities are practically non-existent.
“It’s hard to focus when you’re constantly worried about your safety and hygiene,” one student lamented. “We were promised a new auditorium and upgraded facilities, but nothing has changed. It feels like our future has been stolen.”
University authorities echoed this frustration. The Vice-Chancellor and other senior officials admitted to the Parliamentary Committee that the long-awaited rehabilitation project has yet to begin despite substantial funds already disbursed. Crucial equipment remains boxed and unused, while academic life continues to deteriorate.
The central and damning question remains: Where did the money go? Of the $65 million allocated, $60 million has reportedly been paid to contractors, yet there is no visible work on the ground. According to the Estate Officer, the delay lies with absent contractors, but his vague explanations have only deepened public suspicion of mismanagement and possible corruption.
For the Milton Margai community, this is not just a financial scandal it is a betrayal of trust and a theft of opportunity. Public funds meant to build a better educational future appear to have vanished, leaving students and faculty to endure inhumane and unsafe conditions.
The Parliamentary Committee’s call for a full investigation is a crucial first step. But until there is real accountability, transparency, and justice, the students of Milton Margai Technical University remain trapped in limbo bearing the brunt of a scandal that has stolen more than just money; it has stolen their future.