By Mohamed Macarthy
President Julius Maada Bio on the 30th November, 2021 appointed new Chancellors for various public universities , during a special ceremony at State House in Freetown.
This move is to ensure state universities have autonomy in their administrative responsibilities and also to maintain integrity and professional standards at public institutions across the country.
Dr. James Sanpha Koroma is the Chancellor for the University of Sierra Leone whilst Professor Sahr Gevao, becomes Chancellor of Njala University. David Omatshola Carew is the Chancellor of the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, whilst Justice Nyawo Finda Matturi-Jones, becomesChancellor of the newly established Kono University of Science and Technology.
Dr. James Sanpha is a renowned banker, economist, Founder and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Union Trust Bank Ltd. He had held several national public offices and international leadership positions in the UN, World Bank and was former Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone in 1998.
Prof. Gevao, appointed Chairman of the Sierra Leone Council for Post –Graduate Colleges of Health Specialties in 2019, has a distinguished academic and professional career with the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone and Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
Mr. Carew is an economist who had served as Finance Minister from September 2007 to February 2009 in the previous government. Prior to his appointment as minister, he was the Managing Partner for the auditing firm KPMG.
Justice Matturi-Jones is a retired Supreme Court Judge. She had worked across Sierra Leone from Magistrate to High Court Judge in Kenema and eventually becoming a Supreme Court Judge in 2016.
Speaking at the decoration ceremony held at State House, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie said it was a unique occasion for a sitting president to relinquish his position in those universities, saying that it was a strange happening in Africa for one to give away such a prestigious position.
He said that such a move by President Bio is to ensure that public universities have no bearing in politics, adding that their key mandate is to improve and expand on the educational sector in order to ensure efficiency and effective management in the educational sector.
Chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission, Professor Aliyageen Mohamed Alghali said that it is an unprecedented step taken by this government by way of showing firm commitment to increasing access to education in those institutions. He noted that the commission is poised to advance the management and development of those universities for quality service delivery.
While speaking on behalf of her colleague chancellors, Justice Matturi-Jones commended President Bio for the trust and confidence he has reposed in them to govern those universities, and for his passion and support to augment the educational sector.
She assured the president and other stakeholders present at the ceremony of their fullest supports in providing quality service delivery in executing their duties as chancellors. She expressed the hope that they would work harder so as not to fail in their various duties.
In his statement, President Julius Maada Bio recalled that in 2018 he promised the nation that if elected president, he will depoliticize public universities administrations, and stressed it was intentional on his part, and had thought about it since he was elected as president.
President Bio added that his decision is to assure the nation of effective and autonomous governance for public universities.
President Bio said: “so, we are here today to not only celebrate a promise delivered but to work towards a future of excellence and development at our universities.”
He said that constraints and challenges are still many, no doubt, but that is where focused and autonomous leadership supports the growth and development of public universities.
Copyright © Politico Online 01/12/21
