By Politico Staff Writer
Njala University has on Saturday, 10 April, 2021 conferred degrees, diplomas and certificates on 4,354 students from its eight Schools of Agriculture and Food Science, Education, Environmental sciences, Natural Resources Management, Technology, Social Sciences and Law, Community Health Sciences and School of Postgraduate Studies.
This year's graduation ceremony was a combination of two different classes of students largely due to the effect of the Corona Virus disease which poses lots of restrictions on human activities including public gathering which cannot be avoided at such ceremonies.
Hence the deferment of the graduation of students who completed their courses from 2018/2019 year so they could now join the class of 2019/2020 graduation ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University, Professor Osman Sankoh thanked students and parents for showing resilience and patience and ensuring the graduation was successfully held.
" Mr. Pro Chancellor sir, today's ceremony for the conferment of degrees, diplomas and certificates is an indication of the success of numbers of our citizens who have gone through educational achievements. No ceremony like this can be successful without the contributions of family members, friends and well-wishers ", he said.
He added that, as an institution they have done their best to give knowledge, skills to their students and that it is now their role as students to show the world what they acquired from University.
He said that the University has done a lot in reforms to match with other universities across the globe.
The Principal noted that the university now has in place a strong financial management systems, improving the learning environment, and has activated two key directorates for research and academic planning and development .
However, he said that for the university to be able to function well, they need strong partnership which he said they have already with local and international institutions like the Chinese Embassy, SALCAB, Africell, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Moyamba district Council and the Bo DiCOVERC, amongst others.
The Acting Principal said that President Julius Maada Bio's government has put premium on human capital development which is why as an institution they are providing the human resource to fit into the job market and the vision of president Bio which is to see a brighter Sierra Leone.
He called on the graduates not to forget the University.
The Minister for Higher Education Dr. Alpha T. Wurie said that President Bio did not make it to this year's congregation ceremony but that as a government they have done well in improving the educational standards of the country.
He said he was the Minister of Education back then when Njala University became a University and since then, he said many achievements have been made by the University.
The Higher Education Minister said that even though President Bio was not there to give the degrees, diplomas and certificates, it will be done by the Vice Chancellor.
"The University Act makes the provision that when the Chancellor is not on seat then the Vice Chancellor and Principal will award the degrees, diplomas and certificates", he said.
Dr. Wurie stated that Njala University has trained a lot of teachers and nurses who are doing very well and have produced so many other students in different fields who are contributing to the development of Sierra Leone.
"As a government tha believes in education we will continue to invest in education so that all other sectors will function very well, " he said.
Dr. Olive Musa who works at the Ministry of Education as director of Non- Formal Education was the only female among six people who graduated with a PHD.
Speaking to Politico, she expressed joy for her achievement and encouraged other women to take up diverse challenges in life.
"I am humbled and exited today in achieving this success. I want to contribute to the development of Sierra Leone. My advise to the young female students now is for them to work hard as they too will be awarded a PhD one day," she said.
This year's graduation is deemed the biggest congregation ceremony that Njala University has ever held with thousands of students across all its campuses Accompanied by the relatives and love ones.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (12/04/21)
