By Hassan Bruz Northern Bureau Chief

It is now an open secret that the Lunsar University has fulfilled the conditions required for exhibiting the functions of a University in the West African State of Sierra Leone. This newly achieved status was made public by a combined team of Professors from both the Tertiary Education Commission [TEC] and Members of the Lunsar University Court. The team was recently in the Marampa Chiefdom headquarter Town of Lunsar to present the Certificate of Registration to the Management of the Lunsar University. Although the presentation ceremony was brief and not as colourful as intended due to the COVID 19 protocols, it turned out to be quite impressive with the presence of key stakeholders.

The award of the Certificate of Registration to the Lunsar University is being viewed as a dream come true for the People of Marampa Chiefdom and by extension indigenes of Port Loko District. It implies that the managers of the institute have been able to meet with all the criteria set by the Teacher Education Commission [TEC] to be accorded a University Status.

It further points to the fact that the Lunsar University is an autonomous institution which has nothing to do with the goodwill of anyone. It now has the mandate to commence operations in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Tertiary Education Commission [TEC] – the Commission that has the power to withdraw the very certificate in case of underperformance.

As outlined by Mr. Ahmed Adakwa Koroma, who chaired the ceremony, the Lunsar University is a special blessing that has to be embraced by all and sundry.

The long-awaited and highly welcomed ceremony graced by Distinguished Personalities, was physically presented to the Management of the University by the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission-Professor Aliyageen Alghali at the University Campus after almost 2 years of excruciating assessment.  He said it took the Commission long because they needed to be thorough. Professor Alghali said the Commission had to properly evaluate the facilities on the University with special focus on infrastructure, program structure, financial sustainability and governance before an Accreditation is offered noting that the Commission will continue to monitor the performance of the University before a Permanent Accreditation could be issued.

Professor Aliyageen Alghali furthered in his keynote address that the Commission is minded to do all what is required for a diligent work stressing that it cannot dish out accreditation simply because someone has asked and informed the gathering about the 3 Accreditations the Commission issued recently including the one to Lunsar University based on merit.

According to Chairman Alghali,  the Vice Chancellors of those Universities are recognised Professors competent to provide academic leadership. He made special reference to Professor Sheik Umarr Kamara whom he described as outstanding in the field of education. He said Professor Kamara was once offered the position of Vice Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone but was so much focused that he had to turn down the offer. The Chairman further explained how the Commission made several unannounced assessment visits to the Lunsar University Campus before it eventually recommended for the approval of the University.

Professor Alghali said he is largely impressed by the writeup, structure and presentation of the Application for the Lunsar University. The TEC Chairman said what Professor Kamara and wife have done is very important for the development of Sierra Leone and stressed the need for the community to see it as a remarkable achievement.

Professor Jonas Redwood Sawyerr is the Pro–Chancellor of the Lunsar University and doubles as the Chairman of the University Court. He told the gathering that they are currently undertaking a robust forensic analysis of all Universities and Polytechnics in the country as a result of which, they have left no stone unturned in ensuring proper compliance with the procedures and international best practices. He therefore registered his determination to work with all stakeholders for the development of quality higher education in the country.

The Pro–Chancellor continued that Lunsar University is a Conventional University that is starting with 4 Academic Programs for which he congratulated the Proprietor for achieving this giant goal and assured that the University of Lunsar is well structured to enhance the quality of the various programs including staff profiles and research.

The Deputy Director for Technical and Higher Education in charge of the North West/Region – Mr. Lavali admonished the University to continue with the good work in order to be able to measure up to the expected standards and appealed to youths to make good use of the opportunity as education is the key to success.

In his vote of thanks, the Acting Principal of the Lunsar University – Dr. Michael Conteh commended the Commission for the accreditation and endorsement to operate disclosing that the Lunsar University has an 8 Classroom Building, 4 large laboratory rooms, a Clinic Department, a Dining Hall and an Administrative Block.