Bongolistically,
Mallam O.
Permit me to begin with a personal confession.
My relationship with the University of Sierra Leone did not begin with graduation; it began with disappointment, determination and hope.
Fresh from Tomlinson High School, Songo, I was admitted to Fourah Bay College to read Mathematics and History. Like many young Sierra Leoneans, I arrived on Mount Aureol with dreams as big as the mountain itself. I attended lectures for a few months, convinced that the future had finally begun.
But life had other plans. I could not raise my first-year fees. Campus life became an unbearable struggle. Every scholarship list that was published seemed to carry everyone else’s name except mine. There was no benefactor to turn to, no family member with the means to rescue me. With a heavy heart, I climbed down Mount Aureol during the first term. But I did not leave without a dream.
The next five years became years of hustling, sacrifice and perseverance. I worked, struggled and saved every opportunity I could. Eventually, I earned enough to return to university. This time, I enrolled at Njala University College to read Mathematics and English, which was then a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone.
My first degree was therefore awarded by the University of Sierra Leone.
In many ways, my academic journey belongs to both Fourah Bay College and Njala University. One introduced me to the dream; the other gave me the opportunity to fulfil it. Both shaped the person I eventually became.
Today, I serve in the leadership of the University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH), a private university. Some may therefore expect me to view the fortunes of universities through the lens of competition. I do not. Quite the contrary.
I want the University of Sierra Leone to succeed. I want it to flourish. I want it to regain and strengthen its position as one of Africa’s respected centres of learning because it bears the name of Sierra Leone, my beloved country.
The success of the University of Sierra Leone does not diminish Njala University, UNIMTECH or any other higher education institution. Rather, it lifts the entire sector. A strong flagship university raises academic standards, attracts partnerships, inspires confidence, stimulates healthy competition and enhances the international reputation of every university in Sierra Leone.
When the University of Sierra Leone succeeds, Sierra Leone succeeds. That simple truth should unite us all.
Before I became a university administrator, I viewed universities largely as places where people went to acquire knowledge, earn degrees and prepare for careers. Experience has since taught me that some universities represent something much greater. They become symbols of national identity.
A university that bears the name of an entire country ceases to be just another institution. It becomes a mirror through which the world sees that country’s intellectual ambition, academic standards and commitment to knowledge.
That is why I have always believed that the University of Sierra Leone has no reason to fail.
Notice that I did not say it has no challenges.
Every university has challenges. Funding is constrained. Student enrolment continues to grow. Technology is transforming teaching, learning and research at unprecedented speed. Competition for talented academics has become global. Infrastructure requires constant renewal. These realities confront universities across Africa and indeed across the world. But challenges should never become excuses.
The University of Sierra Leone occupies a unique place in our national consciousness. It carries the country’s name. Every outstanding graduate becomes an ambassador for Sierra Leone. Every influential research publication enhances our national standing. Every international collaboration strengthens our visibility. Equally, every decline in standards reflects not merely on the institution but, unfairly perhaps, on the country whose name it proudly bears. That is an enormous responsibility.
For generations, the University has shaped the leadership of this nation. Presidents, vice presidents, judges, ministers, parliamentarians, doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, economists, scientists, diplomats and countless public servants have all passed through its lecture halls. Long before university education became widespread in West Africa, Fourah Bay College had already earned international recognition. That distinction was earned through scholarship, intellectual rigour and steadfast commitment to excellence.
History, however glorious, cannot sustain a university forever. Each generation must earn its own reputation.
Government therefore has an unmistakable responsibility. Supporting the University of Sierra Leone is not an act of generosity towards one institution; it is an investment in Sierra Leone’s future.
University leadership must equally recognise the weight of its stewardship. Resources matter, but so do governance, accountability, strategic thinking and institutional culture. Even where finances are limited, universities can nurture excellence if expectations remain high and integrity remains non-negotiable.
Academic staff are the custodians of the University’s intellectual reputation. Every well-prepared lecture, every carefully supervised dissertation, every impactful publication and every examination conducted with honesty contributes to the institution’s standing.
Students, too, have responsibilities beyond earning degrees. They should see themselves as ambassadors of an institution whose name is inseparable from that of their country. Their discipline, curiosity, integrity and achievements become part of the University’s identity long after they have graduated.
Alumni must never underestimate their influence. The strength of any great university lies not only in its current students but also in graduates who continue to invest their expertise, resources and networks in the institution that shaped them.
The private sector also has a vital role. Universities and industry should not operate in parallel worlds. They should be partners in research, innovation, entrepreneurship and national development. Businesses benefit from universities that produce graduates with relevant skills and research capable of solving practical problems.
Fortunately, there is every reason for optimism.
The University possesses assets that many younger institutions spend decades trying to build: history, credibility, distinguished alumni across the globe, committed academics, talented students and, above all, the goodwill of an entire nation. These are powerful foundations upon which to build another century of excellence.
History has already answered that question, whether the University of Sierra Leone can succeed. The real question is whether all of us—government, Parliament, alumni, academic staff, students, the private sector, development partners and ordinary citizens—are prepared to support it in fulfilling its national mission. A university that carries the name of a country also carries the hopes of that country.
The University of Sierra Leone belongs to every Sierra Leonean, including those who never studied there. Its achievements should inspire national pride. Its struggles should concern us all. Its future should matter to every citizen because, in many respects, the future of the University and the future of Sierra Leone are inseparable.
Some universities exist simply to educate. Others help define a nation. The University of Sierra Leone belongs firmly in the second category. For that reason alone, failure should never be an acceptable option. Not because it is perfect. Not because it is free from challenges. But because it carries a name that every Sierra Leonean holds dear.
It carries the name of Sierra Leone.
Mallam O.
