By Frank Jones
Freetown, Sierra Leone – April 8, 2025 – In a historic move to foster greater civic engagement and enhance academic collaboration, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone. The official signing ceremony took place today at the Minister’s office, marking a significant step in strengthening government communication, civic education, and national heritage preservation.
Professor Kelleh Gbawuru-Mansaray, Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone, attended the ceremony and expressed his gratitude to the Ministry for extending this partnership to the country’s oldest university. Professor Gbawuru-Mansaray noted that FBC has produced many of the nation’s distinguished professionals, several of whom were present at the event.
He highlighted the university’s readiness and capacity to support the goals outlined in the MOU, which include collaborating on government communication through the Department of Mass Communication, advancing national history and civic awareness through the Department of History and Political Science, and preserving government archives in partnership with the Department of Library, Archives, and Information Studies.
“The university welcomes this partnership with gratitude and looks forward to implementing it through impactful initiatives,” said Professor Gbawuru-Mansaray. He emphasized FBC’s proven track record of successful partnerships and expressed confidence in the collaborative efforts to achieve shared objectives.
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Civic Education commended Fourah Bay College for embracing the partnership, emphasizing its importance in advancing national goals. He explained that the collaboration will play a key role in enhancing public understanding of national issues, fostering civic responsibility, and empowering the youth, particularly students.
The Minister also highlighted the international dimension of the partnership, pointing out existing collaborations with institutions such as New York University and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. These international ties, he said, would strengthen the quality and impact of civic initiatives across Sierra Leone.
Under the terms of the MOU, the Ministry and FBC will co-organize national civic events, starting with the upcoming Sierra Leone Independence Day celebrations. The national commemoration will take place on April 28, 2025, at the Fourah Bay College Amphitheatre, just a day after the country’s Independence Day on April 27.
The ceremony concluded with the official signing of the MOU, followed by a cordial exchange between the Ministry and university leadership, setting the stage for a dynamic and successful collaboration in the years ahead.
