By Kemo Cham
Professor Osman Sankoh has officially assumed office as the new Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University.
Sankoh, who is serving in the position in acting capacity, according to a statement from the university, shared with Politico, was officially handed the mantle of leadership at a low key ceremony on Thursday at the Njala University Secretariat, Njala Campus. He replaced Professor Abdullah Mansaray, who was unceremoniously removed earlier in the week.
Mansaray handed over official documents to Prof. Sankoh at the ceremony attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellors of the Bo and Njala campuses, Deans of schools and other members of the administration, according to the statement.
Dr. Muneer Jalloh, Registrar of the university, was quoted giving a background note on the tenure of Professor Mansaray whom he said had laid a strong foundation that could be built on by his successor. He recalled that Prof. Mansaray came to Njala University in 2002 as a visiting Professor from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He eventually became Dean for the schools of Education and Environmental Sciences, before he was appointed Head of Postgraduate School and Deputy Vice Chancellor & Principal, Bo Campus for two consecutive terms.
Dr Jalloh applauded Professor Mansaray for his many accomplishments over the years at the university.
In a brief statement, Mansaray said he was disappointed when he received the letter informing him that he’d been relieved of his position as Principal and Vice Chancellor. But he added that he now has confidence knowing that his successor has the clout and pedigree to continue with his legacies.
While welcoming Professor Sankoh, Jalloh noted that he was an alumnus of Njala University and was President of the most stable and peaceful Student Union government in the history of the University. He said they at Njala were impressed with Sankoh’s successes abroad and at Statistics Sierra Leone and he expressed hope that he would replicated those achievement at his new appointment.
Prof. Sankoh is the Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer of Statistics Sierra Leone, a position he has held since February 2018. Before then he was the Executive Director of the Ghana-based INDEPTH Network, an international research outfit which specializes in health data management.
Fondly called Mallam O, Professor Sanko is a popular writer and he heads the Sierra Leone Writers’ Series.
On Thursday, Professor Sankoh thanked his predecessor at Njala University and said that he was saddened by the news of his removal, noting however that he couldn’t resist the appointment to serve an institution he cherished the most.
Sankoh spoke about his ‘Bongology concept’, which he said for him meant hard work, transparency, and credibility. He then urged everybody present to imbibe this concept for the betterment of Njala University.
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