By Ralph Sesay
Professor Andrew Baimba, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Njala University, the 27th July 2021 met with Paramount Chief Lappia Boima the 1V of Bo Kakua Chiefdom and his traditional authorities, Assistant Inspector General of Police Southern Region, Aiah Edward Samadia and the Leadership of the Bo Campus Administration.
Introducing the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal to Paramount Chief Lappia Boima, Dr. Muneer Jalloh hinted that it has always been part of a longstanding tradition for the University Administration to introduce newly appointed Vice-Chancellors and Principals to the traditional authorities of the host chiefdom.
PC Lappia Boima was full of appreciation for the visit and thanked the University Administration for according them such respect. He reminisced his days at Njala University and paid homage to Dr. Jalloh and the incoming Vice-Chancellor and Principal for mentoring him throughout his University days and in his present capacity as Paramount Chief.
Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Baimba thanked the University Administration for facilitating his visit to Paramount Chief Boima and lauded the support the University he has received from the leadership of the Chiefdom and called for a continuation of such support.
In another development, the Vice-Chancellor’s delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Regional Police Commander South, AIG Aiah Edward Samadia, and apprised him of the leadership transition at Njala University and the need for a cordial working relationship between the Police and the Njala University Administration.
AIG Samadia welcomed the delegation and noted that his policing style is pro-active and utilizes engagement and dialogue and called on the new leadership to engage the Police at all times to avoid major incidents.
Professor Baimba told the Police boss that they are dealing with very delicate human beings and it is always critical that they maintain a cordial relationship with the Police at all times.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal later met the Bo campus Administration and the Executive of the Academic Staff Association (ASA). He highlighted his key mandate as the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal from the Government of Sierra Leone and his expectations from members of staff within his short stay as Interim Head of the Institution.
He was received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Bo Campus, Professor Mohamed Syed Fofanah, and the President of the Academic Staff Association, Claude Dimoh. The DVC Bo, campus, like many other academics and administrators within the University, has described Professor Baimba as a mentor and a very strong pillar in the curriculum and policy review processes of the University in the last two decades.
The visit to the Campus Administration, the Traditional Authorities, and Senior Police Commander in the Southern Region brought to an end to a series of familiarization visits by Professor Baimba to critical stakeholders of the University since he took up office on the 1st July 2021.
Throughout his familiarization meetings with Deans of Schools, Campus Administrations, University Administrators, Traditional Leaders of the Kori and Kakua Chiefdoms, Professor Baimba has called for commitment, integrity, and professionalism of staff members and the unflinching support of the traditional rulers to return to Njala University to its glory days.
Professor Andrew Baimba was appointed by Government to serve as a caretaker Principal due to his vast institutional knowledge about Njala University where he had served for over three decades. Since his assumption of office on the 1st July 2021 he has vigorously guided the management and functional Review of the programs and courses of the University in tandem with the vision of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education.
He is of the view that Njala University should adopt a ‘Back to Basics’ approach and consolidate in the areas of the Pure and Applied Sciences with a view to regaining its lost glory as a leader in the training of quality science and agriculture teachers for secondary schools across the country.
