By: Abdul Razack Gbla
The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone (USL), held its 2025 Matriculation Ceremony on Wednesday, February 19, at the Amphitheater of Fourah Bay College (FBC).
The event marked the official induction of over 2,600 newly admitted students into the university community.
The ceremony was graced by distinguished academics and university officials, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) of IPAM, Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan, who made history as the institution’s first female DVC. In her keynote address, she extended heartfelt congratulations to the matriculants and urged them to approach their academic journey with dedication and discipline.
“You have been given the opportunity to be part of this prestigious institution, and I encourage you to take your studies seriously. Work hard so that, in four years, you will be among the graduating class of 2028,” she advised.
Other academic leaders also addressed the students, offering words of encouragement and cautioning them against engaging in harmful behaviors, particularly substance abuse. The speakers emphasized the dangers of drug addiction, with a specific warning against the growing use of ‘kush,’ an illicit substance that has had devastating effects on Sierra Leonean youth.
A key moment of the event was the formal declaration made by all matriculating students, pledging to uphold the values and regulations of the University of Sierra Leone. In unison, they recited:
“I hereby promise to conform to the discipline of the University and to all statutes, regulations, and rules in force for the time being, in so far as they concern me.”
The matriculation ceremony serves as an important rite of passage for students as they embark on their academic journey at IPAM. It reaffirms the institution’s commitment to nurturing future leaders in public administration, business, and governance.
With over 2,600 students officially joining the university, the event marks yet another milestone in IPAM’s contribution to higher education in Sierra Leone.
