By Hassan Ibrahim Conteh
After a long wait, Fourah Bay College (FBC) has officially unveiled the Voice of Children (VOC) Building for students and staff of the Mass Communications Department
The unveiling on Tuesday 15th December, 2015 was done at the University of Sierra Leone (USL).
FBC is one of the three constituent colleges that make up the USL.
The three storied building is set up for both administrative and lecturing purposes. And officials say it would ease the scarcity of space for students who would be taking classes in the next academic year.
The new building comprises six office rooms, ten toilets, two lecture rooms, one students’ lounge and a store.
Tonya Musa, head of the department of Mass Communication, encouraged students to make use of the facilities provided by the university administration.
The building was constructed by the University of Sierra Leone, with funding from the UNDP, and it was furnished by the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG).
The chairman of MRCG, Ransford Wright, promised more support for the University especially the Mass Communication department.
The organization donated two projectors, two PA systems, two cameras and one studio for children. Mr Wright said the studio was provided to enhance the capacity of students in broadcasting, noting that young broadcasters should have all the necessary equipment to enable them perform their work well.
The MRCG is a coalition of media stakeholders who, with the help of donors, are working on reforming the country`s media landscape.
“We believe that this is the starting point and MRCG is committed to working with the Mass Communication Department,” said Wright.
The VOC building project started from the establishment of Radio UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone in May 2000 by the United Nations to help restore peace and by offering an alternative to the incitement of hate heard on the few radio stations after the 1991 civil war in the country.
The Acting Director Alumni and International Relations, Mrs. Bernadette Cole, said the idea to revitalize the Voice of Children’s project was finally taken into consideration after the United Nations scaled down its operations in the country.
(C) Politico 21/12/15
