By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Aiah Kpakima, has on Tuesday January 21 unveiled a business center at the University of Sierra Leone (USL).
The facility, which is located at the Secretariat of the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) at Lightfoot Boston Street in Freetown, will serve as an outlet for learning materials and other university paraphernalia like graduation gowns, files and other customized USL items.
The business center was established as a partnership between the three constituent colleges of Fourah Bay College (FBC), Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and COMAHS.
Officials say the idea is part of efforts to rebrand the university, while raising funds to solve some of its financial needs. They say this could limit the university’s reliance on subventions from the government.
The business was registered as limited by guarantee.
Professor Foday Sahr, Vice Chancellor and Principle of USL, in his statement at the inauguration ceremony noted that the initiative started two years ago after their appointment as an administration, when a 19-point action was given to them. He said they gave themselves an additional mandate, which was to increase the visibility of the university by engaging in massive rebranding.
“The establishment of the university business center is the realization of one of that mandate that we took upon ourselves to increase the visibility of the University and to rebrand the university. In any university, rebranding is very important. We intend to take it further to a point that they will have to compete with other successful businesses,” he stated.
Prof. Sahr cited other developments they have embarked on, including the establishment of the directorate of ICT and the Directorate of Quality Assurance. He said they had also registered the business, in addition to the logos of the three campuses and the secretariat.
“It’s a trade mark. It is now our property. Anybody that print our logos without our authorization, it will be a criminal offence and we will take appropriate action within the jurisdiction,” he warned.
In his statement before unveiling the facility, Professor Kpakima said that the value of a university business could not be underestimated, noting that it was only in Sierra Leone that people did not value such ventures. He said he hoped that this one would be sustainable.
The Minister urged the USL administration to learn from the University of Ghana which he said had a similar venture.
“We need to have real medical books, real nursing books, real text books that the students can refer to. It can be eBooks. Like if you go to John Hockings, there is an integrated nursing book that you can use for four years, but you cannot go to the US because they will expect you to pay in Dollars. But if it’s in Ghana, it will be easier now that we will be having the Eco,” he said.
The university officials urged students and alumni members to support the venture and give feedback on the business.
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