By: Saidu Jalloh
Fourah Bay College (FBC), Africa’s oldest western-style university, has dismissed rumors circulating on social media that its staff quarters have been sold, describing the claim as “unfounded and misleading.” Instead, the university’s management is drawing attention to a deeper challenge threatening its legacy the ongoing encroachment on its land.
In a press statement issued on October 1, 2025, the University of Sierra Leone’s Directorate of Communications and International Relations, Dr. Tonya Musa clarified that no university property has been sold. The administration urged the public to treat the social media post with skepticism, stressing that “no university quarters have been sold.”
The clarification comes at a sensitive moment for FBC, which is preparing to celebrate its bicentenary in 2027. The institution is already grappling with land encroachment that threatens not only its future development but also its cultural and academic heritage. In July 2024, the High Court under Justice Unisa Kamara ruled that FBC is the rightful owner of the disputed land at the Tree Planting Axis and ordered immediate possession.
Despite the court’s ruling, the college has yet to reclaim the land, citing persistent security concerns. The delay, according to the administration, has emboldened encroachers who infiltrate the campus, endanger staff and students, and put the environment at risk. The statement also warned that the continued intrusion undermines efforts to expand the university and poses a threat to the historic Botanical Garden and the critical water catchment area serving greater Freetown.
Dr. Tonya Musa, Director of Communications and International Relations at the University of Sierra Leone, appealed to the wider public and authorities for support. He emphasized that protecting FBC’s land is not just about defending property but about safeguarding a national and continental treasure. “The preservation of this land is essential for the future of FBC, its students, and the country’s higher education system,” he urged.
As Sierra Leone’s premier institution of learning edges closer to its 200th anniversary, the call for action underscores the delicate balance between history, environment, and education that FBC represents.