May 5, 2021
dadsonmusa2018@gmail.com
Njala University is one of the citadels of learning in Sierra Leone. It is located in the Southern province of Sierra Leone and has three campuses. My visit to the Towama campus before Easter this year, it was observe that students and lecturers go through strenuous means to access pure water.
The Towama campus which was one of the best in terms of infrastructure still seems to be reeling from the effect of the war. There are five dormitories for student accommodation and a couple of lecturers’ quarters. Whenever these dormitories are filled to capacity the demand for water goes up the struggle becomes unbearable. And the dug- out wells where they use hand pump usually dries up at the height of every dry season. Imagine students have to use a good part of their study time to go out looking for water, whilst lecturers’ domestic work stalled because of lack of pure water.
A student that spoke to me on condition of anonymity lamented how sometimes they will go some kilometers just to find drops of water. There is an internal tap system but that only works when electricity is available, but reliable electricity supply in the campus is another topic to be discussed. An institution of higher learning like Njala University should not be envisaging water shortage of this magnitude as it has knock-on effects ranging from health, student performance in exams, etc.
Professor Osman Sankoh( Mallam O) who happens to be the acting principal of Njala doubles as the Statistician General of Sierra Leone and has his office located all the way in Freetown is currently so occupied with mid-term census which is a burning issue at the moment. He is a fine academic and a writer who has so many publications to his credit. But honestly one cannot be master of two worlds and achieve good results or excellence easily except if you are super human. He needs to be fair with himself and this country and allow other capable hands steer the ship in one of these institutions for the good of mama Salone. But honestly students of Njala University, Bo- Towama campus are having it difficult fetching much needed water.