The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has on 3rd December 2025 conferred degrees, diplomas, and certificates on 2,751 graduates from the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS).
The ceremony, held at the Adjai Crowther Amphitheatre, Fourah Bay College, was themed “Transformation: A Step to the Future, With or Without Jobs.”
The event drew senior government officials, including the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, the Chancellor of the University, the Vice Chancellor and Principal, members of the University Court, representatives of public and private universities, members of the diplomatic corps, and family and friends of the graduating class. Performances from the University Theatre Group, the Brass Band, the Bible Study Union, and the Confucius Institute added colour to the occasion.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, in her address, described the graduation as a national milestone and a testament to the determination of students who have overcome academic and personal hurdles. She commended the university administration for its reforms, especially the expansion of e-learning, new income-generating ventures, and recreational facilities that support students’ wellbeing.
The Minister also spoke frankly about the realities of the job market, acknowledging that many young graduates face difficulties securing employment. She encouraged them to embrace adaptability, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and continuous skill-building as strategies for navigating an unpredictable labour environment.
She stressed that Sierra Leone’s development ambitions, particularly under the government’s Big Five Agenda, depend heavily on skilled, ethical, and innovative graduates.
The Chancellor of USL, P.C. Margaret Catherine Baio-Gbanie IV, stressed that the future will favour people who can adapt, learn quickly, and handle a range of tasks. She reminded the graduates that modern work carries ethical responsibilities. Protecting human rights, respecting freedoms, and practising accountability and transparency, she said, are essential but often ignored, to the detriment of society. She warned against corruption and the misuse of public resources, noting that integrity must guide professional conduct.
She closed by wishing the graduates well and encouraging them to be people of substance who will make the country proud.
Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Aiah Lebbie highlighted major progress at the University during his two-year tenure, noting that 2,751 students were graduating from IPAM and COMAHS, with IPAM contributing the majority.
He pointed to new initiatives, including an e-learning MBA, new master’s programmes, upgraded equipment, and ongoing construction of a modern cleaning station. He added that a long-abandoned six-storey building would soon be completed as the new university secretariat.
He said that the university has also expanded agricultural activities in Lunsar, cultivating seven acres of cassava on an 11-acre site, and introduced its own camel pigs.
Addressing graduates, he urged them to embrace change, develop strong ethics, and use technology creatively. He encouraged them to turn Sierra Leone’s difficult job market into motivation for innovation and nation-building.
University Registrar, Munda J.S. Lebbie, described the ceremony as a moment of pride and renewal for an institution that has weathered several challenges in recent years.
He commended the resilience of the 2025 graduating class and highlighted the university’s steady progress, including the roll-out of e-learning programmes, new master’s offerings in law and social work, and ongoing infrastructure improvements such as the soon-to-be-completed six-storey university secretariat.
Lebbie also cited recent investments in student recreation and agricultural initiatives, including the cultivation of 7 acres of cassava, a move aligned with the national food security agenda.
He also raised concerns over land encroachment issues at Fourah Bay College and called for support from the Ministry to settle the matter.
