Freetown, 30 September 2025 — The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has unveiled its new leadership lineup with the appointment of three Deputy Vice-Chancellors, in a move ratified by the University Court and effective 1 October 2025.
The appointments are portrayed by university leaders as part of a strategic push to enhance administration, academic excellence, and institutional reform across its constituent colleges.
The three new Deputy Vice-Chancellors are:
* Associate Professor Andrew C. M. Baio, Fourah Bay College (FBC)
* Associate Professor Ezekiel Duramany Lakkoh, Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM)
* Associate Professor James Baligeh Walter Russell Cole, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS)
These appointments align with the mandates of the Universities Act 2025, according to the university’s announcement, which was issued by Dr. Tonya Musa, Director of Communications and International Relations.
Academic Profiles and Expertise
*Associate Professor Andrew C. M. Baio (FBC)
Baio is an established scholar in the field of aquatic resource economics and governance, affiliated with Fourah Bay College. His work blends biophysical, social, and economic perspectives in natural resource stewardship, particularly in fisheries and coastal resource systems.
He has published on topics such as governance in small-scale fisheries, sustainable management in data-deficient marine systems, and rights-based approaches to fisheries management. Before rising in academic ranks, Baio earned degrees including BSc, MPhil, PgD, and PhD, and has contributed in consultancy and collaborative multidisciplinary research in Sierra Leone and internationally. He has also served as Programme Coordinator at the Fisheries and Marine Training Institute (FMTI) under Fourah Bay College.
His appointment is seen as reinforcing USL’s strength in environmental and resource governance as part of its broader leadership team.
*Associate Professor Ezekiel Duramany Lakkoh (IPAM)
While publicly available detailed profiles on Lakkoh are limited, he is known to be involved in entrepreneurial, accounting, and financial economics circles in Sierra Leone. He likely brings experience in fiscal policy, institutional development, and public administration. In his role at IPAM, Lakkoh will be expected to support governance, management training, and capacity building across public service and administrative sectors.
*Associate Professor James Baligeh Walter Russell Cole (COMAHS)
Also referenced as James B. W. Russell, he is a physician, Associate Professor of Medicine, and cardiologist affiliated with COMAHS at USL. ([Google Scholar][4]) His credentials include MD, FCPS, FWACP, FESC, and FACC, reflecting a strong clinical and academic background in internal medicine and cardiology. He serves in leadership roles at USL’s medical faculty, including as a dean in clinical sciences and dentistry.
His selection is likely intended to integrate clinical expertise into the administration of medical education, research, and health systems engagement at COMAHS.
Institutional Significance & Outlook
The university positions these appointments as strategic for bolstering institutional governance, aligning with the Universities Act 2025, and advancing academic specialization in each college. The addition of strong experts in fisheries and environmental economics, public administration, and clinical medicine is viewed as strengthening USL’s capacity to deliver interdisciplinary research and training.
With these appointments in place from October 2025, stakeholders in Sierra Leone’s higher education, government, and development sectors will be watching how the new leadership executes reforms, fosters collaboration across colleges, and enhances the university’s standing domestically and internationally.
