Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh conducted an official visit to the Bunumbu Campus of Eastern Technical University (ETU) to assess ongoing development projects and engage with key stakeholders in Bunumbu Peje West, Kailahun District on Sunday 23 November 2025. The visit highlights the government’s commitment to inclusive development, quality education, and community engagement, in line with President Julius Maada Bio’s national development agenda.
Accompanied by senior government officials, including the Deputy Minister of Finance, Deputy Minister of Health, Members of Parliament from Kailahun District, and representatives from the Project Financial Management Unit (PFMU), Dr. Sengeh inspected the campus and interacted with university leadership, students, and project managers.
“The goal here is to understand the status of the project and how far the contractors have progressed. We are happy to be here with major government personnel, sitting under the mango tree, talking about government and development. I want to thank the Honorable Paramount Chief, and everyone involved,” said Dr. Sengeh.
The construction and rehabilitation project at Bunumbu Campus is part of the government’s broader education infrastructure development program. Guided by Emmanuel Boateng Wiafe, Construction Manager, and Samuel Bruce, Project Director of David Welter Limited, the Chief Minister reviewed the on-site progress including Total buildings 67 (33 newly constructed and 34 rehabilitated) Project completion 70%.
Project managers highlighted key challenges. Road network. Poor road conditions affecting material delivery and equipment movement. Material availability. Limited access to essential construction materials, including granite stones (½ inch and ¾ inch). Labor skills shortage of skilled labor in the local community, requiring recruitment from surrounding towns. Professor Mohamed T. Lahai, Head of Campus, provided a historical overview of the university. 1924 Established as Union College. 1973 Renamed Bunumbu Teachers College and became a government institution. 1991 Integrated with Government Technical Institute (GTI) Kenema. 2001 Merged to form Eastern Polytechnic, Kenema. 2021 Upgraded by President Julius Maada Bio to the Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone (ETU)
The student president, Vandi Lasana Jinnah, also attended, sharing student perspectives and aspirations. The visit underscored the government’s commitment to inclusive development, improved education access, and local economic growth, in line with the Sierra Leone Education Sector Support Project (SLESSP).
Through the Bunumbu Campus project, the government aims to provide modern educational facilities, enhance learning environments, and strengthen technical education, ensuring that development benefits reach local communities while fostering national growth.
