By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
Njala University has on Saturday 25th February, 2023 held its 15th Congregation Ceremony where it conferred various Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates to a total of 2,815 males and females’ persons.
This year’s congregation ceremony which marked the 15th was celebrated under the theme “Re-engineering University Education for Innovative Transformation.
Addressing grandaunts at the congregation ceremony, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie who in his statement urged the grandaunts, after praising them for successfully going through all the huddles, to shake each other’s hand, and to also tell each other to retain President Julius Maada Bio if they were pleased and still want to see the transformation in education.
Recalling the various international awards and distinctive positions the President had recently achieved in the education sector, the minister elucidated the progress they had achieved in the country through education. “In 2018 when we came to governance, only 33,000 students attempted the WASSCE. Of that number, 13 percent had five credits, including English and Maths. Four years on, we invested 22 percent into education. In 2022, 186,000 students attempted WASSCE. Of that number, 58 percent had five credits, including English and Math’s.”
The Minister of Higher and Technical Education further explained that none of the grandaunts, sitting in that graduation ceremony, paid for those exams. He said only His Excellency the President had that great mindset to invest in them. The minister affirmed that in just five years they had incredibly transmitted movement from secondary to higher education in 10 folds. He therefore requested a round of applause for each and every lecturer and staff in public universities in Sierra Leone.
The Chancellor of Njala University, Professor Sahr Moses Gevao after acknowledging and welcoming the distinguish stakeholders and grandaunts, he expressed that the current administration of Njala University had administered and maintained a transparent and accountable leadership.
“Such reforms are fully supported by the university cult for the betterment of Njala University,” he maintained. The Chancellor dedicated special thanks and appreciation to all the members, from the distinguish staff to the students who had in one way or the other played tremendous role to the university.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University, Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma affirmed that the 15th congregation ceremony which they were celebrating was turning out 2,815 males and female’s persons whom they had certified to be worthy to receive the various Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates in various fields of study.
He stated that the theme for this year’s congregation was “Re-engineering University Education for Innovative Transformation”. Prof. Bashiru Koroma noted that the theme was informed by their deep conviction that the entire education system in the country must be quickly reconfigured to foster the innovative transformation the country yearns for. “It is a way of regaining what we have lost in the past industrial revolution. We are not to be left behind anymore in the current forth industrial revolution,” he maintained.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal expressed that he was delighted to be there to undertake his statutory duty as Vice Chancellor and Principal for the great Njala University but even more delighted to witness each of the grandaunts fulfilment of their dreams. With a round of applause, he congratulated each grandaunt, hard working parents, siblings, extended family members, and all loved ones for helping the grandaunts fulfilling their dreams.
Giving the votes of thanks, the spokesman of the University who dubbles as senior lecturer said that despite the President had relinquished his position from Chancellor of the University and assumed the position of Visitor to the University, he affirmed that the President had still been providing necessary support to the university. “Under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, we have realized the significance around funding education, especially tertiary education level,” he said.
The Orator of Njala University appealed that although the university had been receiving funding over the years, they still craved on the indulgence of the government for more support in order to present their core mandate of teaching research and community services. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Health and Sanitation and other development partners who always responded to their requests favorably, and also for the creation of linkages that had helped them in their service delivery.
To the grandaunts, he appreciated them for being good customers. As lecturer he admonished that as they were going out, they would be expected to practically implement the skills and knowledge they had acquired to solve problems. In the course of that, he said they should expect challenges and furthered that those who wrongfully acquired their degrees should expect more challenges. He said the fact that they were there to receive their awards was just a testament to their perseverance and commitment to excellence. The orator and lecturer expressed hope that wherever they found themselves, they would continue to uphold and maintain that excellence.