By Ralph Sesay (PRO Njala University)
The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Njala University, Professor Osman Sankoh, over the weekend, paid courtesy calls on the Paramount Chiefs of Dasse and Kamajei Chiefdoms, Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone.
He was accompanied by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Njala Campus, Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma and the Community and Public Relations Officers of the University.
Professor Koroma introduced the Vice Chancellor to the two Paramount Chiefs of Kamajei and Mano Dasse and noted that his boss has respect for the customs and traditions of the host communities.
He referred to the Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal as a man from a humble background and one that is determined to revive and cement the longstanding relationship between the host communities and Njala University.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor further disclosed that the administration of Professor Sankoh would push for the host communities to feel the presence of the University especially in the areas of agricultural improvement and the educational empowerment of women and the girl child.
He concluded by revealing that Njala University has established Distance Learning Programs in several Districts across the country including Moyamba and encouraged teachers in the host communities to use the platform to enhance their careers and further contribute to the educational development of their respective areas.
The Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal, while addressing both Paramount Chiefs, started by narrating his humble background and emphasized that he was able to hold prominent positions in both the public and private sectors because his parents had prioritized education.
He urged the two Paramount Chiefs to support President Bio’s Free Quality Education by improving the enrolment of their children especially the girl child in various educational institutions.
Mallam .O. assured them that his tenure at Njala University would pay considerable attention towards changing the trajectory in the relationship between the University and the host communities.
“We would ensure that our host communities feel the presence of the University in the areas of meeting our Corporate Social Responsibility in the areas of education, provision of agricultural extension services, improved seed varieties and yields and food self-sufficiency to our farmers in the host communities,’’ Professor Sankoh noted.
He expressed dismay that the host communities have not been able to benefit over the years from a University that was purposely established to fulfil the agricultural needs of the country and its host communities.
This trajectory, according to the VC&P must change under his tenure as Vice Chancellor and Principal.
Paramount Chief Brimah Sondifu Sovulla the 4th of Kamajei Chiefdom thanked the Vice Chancellor and his delegation for according such a respect to him as one of the Paramount Chiefs of the host communities.
He recounted that this was a novelty since the establishment of Njala University and assured the Principal and his delegation that they will fully support the new VC’s vision to meet the agricultural and education needs of the host communities.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal was introduced to the Chiefdom Speaker, Jeremiah Lamboi, Town Chief, Yamba Ngebeh, Women Leader Mrs. Abie Bonah and the Councillor for Ward 347, Constituency 98, Daniel Seifoi.
Paramount Chief Haja Fatmata Bintu Koroma Meama-Kaijue of Mano Dasse Chiefdom who also doubles as Paramount Chief Member of Parliament for Moyamba District and her traditional authorities welcomed the Vice Chancellor and Principal to Mano Dasse later in the afternoon on Saturday.
PC Haja emphasized that Njala University is a traditional University and this is why the relationship between the University and the host communities is pivotal and should be sustained.
She thanked the VC and P together with his delegation for the courtesy call on her and the traditional authorities of Mano Dasse and pledged her support to the renewed commitment by the University authorities to revive and cement the relationship.
The PCMP concluded by recounting the role of her forefathers to the establishment of Njala University in the early sixties and the strides they made as indigenes to relocate Njala from Freetown after the war.
Traditional elders of Dasse called for support from the University authorities to improving the enrolment numbers of their children to the University and also meeting their agricultural and health needs of their Chiefdom.
Community Relations Officer, Bamie Charles was hailed by both the traditional and University authorities for successfully planning and coordinating the visit of the Vice Chancellor and Principal to the two Chiefdoms culminating into a very cordial reception and interaction between the two.
The climax of both visits was the presentation of a token to the two Paramount Chiefs and their respective authorities such as the Chiefdom speaker, Section Chiefs, Women’s leaders.
