By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has installed its first-ever female Chancellor in a ceremony held at Fourah Bay College (FBC) on the 13th of March 2024.
In her statement before the installation of the new Chancellor, Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), Dr. Ramatulai Wurie said their next point of action in their role map was to reconstitute the University Court, saying since there is now a new Chancellor, it means they have reconstituted the Court. They also ensure that they set up a search committee to define the substantive Vice-Chancellor and Principal for the USL.
She used the opportunity to thank the oversight committee for its selfless service and unwavering commitment to USL as their collective guidance, wisdom, and expertise became very instrumental in steering them throughout that period. She said the committee also complimented the proactive approach of the ministry in addressing long-standing issues concerning benefits and backlog in promotions for lecturers across all public universities.
Dr. Wurie thanked the administration for their support as they recognized that they have to be proactive to militate against any likelihood of an industrial strike, knowing the potential rippling effect it will have on students’ learning and planned activities such as matriculation and even the graduation scheduled for April 2024.
She expressed confidence that their collective efforts will address that issue as soon as possible. She said the role of the Chancellor of USL cannot be overstated as the holder serves as the symbol of the universities’ values, traditions, and aspirations.
She pointed out that the new Chancellor Paramount Chief Dr. Margaret Catherine Baio Gbanie 1V brings a wealth of experience with the prerequisite qualification, embodying the vision which is the ideals of the university. With her at the helm of USL, she is confident that they would continue to uphold the highest standards of academic rigor and integrity to go towards an even brighter future for USL.
“But the Chancellor cannot stand alone, it is the collective effort of the entire university community to drive our success and I’m confident that the new Chancellor will get that support that is needed to ensure that we change the narrative of USL,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to the new Chancellor for accepting the mantle to serve “in this leadership role and for dedicating herself to the education sector for all these years and her continued dedication to USL in this new role.”
She was confident that with the new Chancellor’s leadership and support of the entire university community, the institution will flourish and thrive in the years to come as she looks forward to working with her and learning from her.
In her reaction, the new Chancellor of USL said she was honored to be appointed and extended gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio and the Minister of Technical and Higher Education and team. She said she felt privileged and humbled by the opportunity given to her to lead “our great university, my alma mater.”
She recalled over a hundred years ago, USL carried the accolade of the Athens of West Africa, and her “fervent hope” is to work assiduously with her team to win that reputation of excellence once more whereby they will change the nation for the better. She was confident that with USL’s national prominence, and the internal institutional instability in the last few weeks aside, they could rise and bring the university to more prominence.
“To allay the fears of pessimists, I promise to adhere to the contents of the University Act of 2021 and also the timelines that the oversight committee has slated for the matriculation and congregation activities,” she said.
PC Dr. Gbanie noted that the USL contributes significantly to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of the nation and urged all to fulfill their potential to advance the nation’s growth even better than before.
She believed that with intellectually ambitious students, dedicated staff, and political will, USL would once more claim the accolade of not only the Athens of West Africa but the Athens of Africa. The new Chancellor is also the Paramount Chief of Valunia Chiefdom in Bo District.
Her appointment came after an acrimonious leadership tussle as to who heads the university.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (15/03/24)
