By Alhaji Dauda Musa Bangura
Among institutions of higher learning across Sierra Leone, there is none like the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), according to well-informed sources within and outside the college administration.
This is because there is no public institution such as banks, government offices and many others which cannot boast of the most efficient and effective employees, officials, managers or heads of departments that were not educated at IPAM.
As this year marks 41 years since IPAM has been producing graduates to work in all public and private fields across the nation. There is much more with IPAM. It is the first institution of higher learning to introduce electronic/internet or online voting at the just-concluded Students’ Union elections. This procedure enables students of the institution to participate in the election without stepping foot on IPAM campus, as long as they are officially registered and paid-up and have received their PIN code which gives them access to vote online.
This year has seen immense progress in the administration’s work at IPAM while students are getting used to carrying out their studies and exams in more advanced ways using the internet than they were able to do before.
Similarly, over the years, IPAM has established new campuses across the country. It is the only institution that exists in Freetown, Makeni, Bo, Kenema, Kono and quire recently was established in Kailahun and Pujehun. The exemplary and distinct quality of IPAM products makes little wonder why the institution has been winning many meritorious awards from AWOL and other nationally and internationally recognized institutions for being the best institution of higher learning in Sierra Leone.
Despite being only 41 years in existence, this institution has done a lot under the leadership of Professor Edmond Nonie, who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC). Through his erudite and charismatic leadership skills, there have been massive reform, transformation and expansion of the institution for it to be able to admit more students as well as employ more lecturers.
IPAM will continue to be the crème-de-la-crème in society because it has a management which has the ability to coordinate all sections of staff including lecturers, support staff and other workers at the institution including cleaners so that the administrative, financial and other matters concerning the smooth flow of IPAM operations are done in a concerted and effortless manner.
These developments therefore call for celebration.
