By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority (NSA) on Monday met with officials of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) to strengthen partnership and collaboration aimed at reviving Inter-University sports in Sierra Leone. The meeting, held in the Conferance Room of the Ministry of Sports, focused on identifying practical and urgent areas of intervention by the respective institutions.
Speaking on behalf of Ministry, Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education Sarjoh Aziz Kamara commended the visionary and progressive leadership of the Minister of Sports, Hon. Augusta James-Teima, and NSA Executive Director, Mohamed Alphaka Conteh, Esq., for their diligent and unwavering commitment to advancing sports in Sierra Leone.
“I am pleased to see a female Cabinet Minister positively driving a male-dominated sector,” Kamara said, whist assuring the meeting that MTHE stands fully ready and prepared to work with the Ministry of Sports and the NSA for the full revival of Sierra Leone’s Inter-University sports competitions.”
“Inter- Versity sports competitions promote happiness and foster social networking among students from different regions, ethnicities, political ideologies, and religious beliefs,” he added.
Sarjoh Aziz Kamara stressed that while policies supporting sports development already exist, greater attention must be paid to the practical implementation of Inter-University sports through coordinated planning, improved infrastructure, resource mobilization, and structured sporting calendars.
Mr. Kamara described sports as a critical tool for job creation, skills development and social transformation of young people, in line with President Bio’s vision for the youth of Sierra Leone.
In her remarks, Minister of Sports, Hon. Augusta James-Teima, welcomed the renewed collaboration and described the relationship between sports and education as a historic partnership that must continue to flourish. She acknowledged that the absence of inter-varsity competitions in recent years has created a significant gap in the country’s sports development framework.
“There is no way we can move sports forward without working closely with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education. This partnership has always existed. There may have been administrative separation, but there has never been a divorce,” the Minister remarked.
Hon. James-Teima disclosed that both Ministries have already begun discussions on reviving inter-Univerity competitions, including the possibility of organizing regional tournaments. She noted that such tournaments would serve as an effective platform for identifying and nurturing talented athletes to represent the country at International University Games and other global sporting events.
Executive Director of the National Sports Authority, Mohamed Alphaka Conteh, Esq., described the engagement with MTHE as timely and called for a broader national approach that integrates sports into education and national development.
The NSA Chief appealed to stakeholders to move beyond discussions and develop a comprehensive framework that positions sports at the center of education, governance, youth empowerment, and economic development in alignment with His Excellency Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s agenda for the young people of the country.
“Students consistently pay sports fees, but most institutions have failed to prioritize sports programmes, resulting in inadequate competition and limited talent identification and development. Stronger oversight into the utilization of sports funds in tertiary institutions is needed urgently. he said
“I wish to encourage university authorities to establish sports departments, centers of excellence for sports, and promote academic programmes related to sporting activities and competitions,” he added.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment by all institutions to develop a comprehensive roadmap for tertiary sports in the country.