By Theresa Kef Sesay
Unanimous acceptance of the recommendations of the Search Committee and the Hon Minister of Technical and Higher Education by the Executive Committee of the University Court on the 5th May 2022, has confirmed Associate Professor, Dr. Philip John Kanu, as the new Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Milton Margai Technical University.
His name will go down the annals of history as the first “Miltonian” to be appointed as Principal of Milton Margai and also the first to occupy the position of Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr. Philip John Kanu, started from a humble background. He was employed as an Instructor and rose to the rank of a Senior Principal Lecturer at the institution, the highest status in the Polytechnic College.
Dr. Philip John Kanu holds a Diploma, HTC Secondary, BEd, M.Sc. with several postgraduate certificates and a Ph.D.
He was appointed in 2018 as Acting Principal of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology and later confirmed in 2020.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal has given a facelift to the institution with a stellar transformation to place the University in line with modern standards, one that contributes to the human capital development of the country.
Through his remarkable leadership skills, the institution, in 2021 was transformed from a Polytechnic College to a Technical University by the Government of His Excellency President Brig. Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
So far he has been commended as an exemplary leader since he took over some pointing out his creation of a good relationship with the students, his establishment of a student’s forum where he gets one on one discussion with them which gives them the confidence to open up on issues affecting them.
Known as a listening leader, he created the Principal’s Breakfast – a platform that he uses to lecture staff on emerging issues and key topics that will enhance their performance.
He has also built a strong staff capacity that matches the status of a university. Lecturers are given scholarships to further their studies, and the institution has recently received a lecturer who had finished his PhD in Engineering and another one with a Master in the same field from Ghana. These are some of many ways he has created for staff improvement like a suitable staff common room, with space for the HoDs to be able to interact with the students outside the lecture room and bridging the gap between the University and the community.
Every year, since he took over, the community has been receiving scholarships for their children to further their education. This is to make them have a feeling of belonging, creating that sense of ownership of the University.
