Parliamentary oversight on technical and higher education has demanded a formal update from the University of Sierra Leone (USL) on the stalled Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and FIMAP campus project at Bureh Town, following a meeting with university leaders to review successes, challenges and funding gaps, officials said on Wednesday.
At a session held at USL’s IPAM committee room, Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Aiah Lebbie outlined the university’s recent achievements, including completion of the new secretariat building (a project begun under a past administration), paving works at IPAM’s entrance and registry, restoration of regular academic scheduling, and expansion of faculties, programmes and degree offerings. An e-learning initiative and institutional rebranding efforts were also among positive steps.
However, Lebbie warned that inadequate finances continue to hamper key operations: research, staff scholarships, laboratory equipment, and ex gratia payments are underfunded. He raised specific concern over substantial delays on the IPAM & FIMAP Bureh Town project, and appealed to Parliament to intervene.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already begun investigations into the IPAM/Bureh Town campus project. In a press release, the ACC confirmed they had launched a forensic probe following a report in Africa Confidential in August 2024 that alleged corruption in the contract awarded to Femab Properties of Lagos, Nigeria, for the new campus in Bureh Town. 
Some critics say that the deal with Femab Properties, valued at approximately USD 50 million, raised red flags over procurement practices and contractor credibility. The ACC’s investigation is seen as central to explaining why the project, publicly announced years ago, has yet to be completed. 
During the parliamentary meeting, Deputy Leader of Government Business Hon. Sahr Emerson Lamina commended USL’s achievements but asked for clarity on the stalled Bureh Town project. Lamina requested a written report to Parliament. Professor Lebbie said that a report had already been submitted to the ACC following public concerns, but that no visible progress has been made since. He promised the written copy to Parliament and appealed for assistance to ensure improved teaching facilities for students.
MPs also noted that IPAM is operating on three shifts a day due to space constraints, affecting quality of teaching, and encouraged faster rollout of e-learning, especially for programmes planned through online platforms.
The University of Sierra Leone is the country’s premier higher education institution, encompassing Fourah Bay College, IPAM, and the College of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences. Its infrastructure, academic programmes and financial stability are seen as critical to the government’s broader goals for improving education, including science, technology, and technical disciplines.
The ACC’s involvement in the Bureh Town project is part of its broader mandate to investigate allegations of misappropriation in public infrastructure and education sector contracts. For example, in 2024 the ACC concluded a probe into the “Free Quality Education Project” over mismanagement of funds for a female hostel construction in Kailahun, confirming about 90% practical completion but raising concerns over accountability in the remaining work and procurement processes. 
