The proactive Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Public Administration and Management – University of Sierra Leone, Professor Edmond Nonie has vowed at the 41 years’ celebration of IPAM on Friday 5 October 2021 at the institution’s campus, Tower Hill in Freetown that the institution under his leadership and with support from his dynamic staff will continue to be the best public educational institution in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the ceremony Professor Nonie saidthere 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 which the institution will continue to maintain.
He further said that over the years, IPAM has established new campuses across the country and that it is the only institution that exists simultaneously in Freetown, Makeni, Bo, Kenema, Kono and quire recently was established in Kailahun and Pujehun.
He added that access to Quality Education is key for IPAM, and that is why they are working very hard with the Head of the University of Sierra Leone to ensure IPAM’s presence is felt everywhere in Sierra Leone.
He ended by re-echoing the fact that 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.
Speaking on behalf of the Registrar of the University of Sierra Leone, Mr. Brima Bah Deputy Registrar IPAM, gave a brief story of the journey.
On behalf of the University of Sierra Leone, he congratulated IPAM for attaining 41 years of productive existence, playing a very critical role in the development of human capital of Sierra Leone, since its establishment on 5th November 1980.
He informed his audience that what started as a training centre for civil servants has, over the years, blossomed into unarguably the largest constituent college in all the Universities in Sierra Leone, but certainly, with no doubt, the most widespread institution of higher learning in Sierra Leone. He maintained that this is exactly why this year’s theme: “Fostering Access to Quality Higher Education – IPAM’s Role” is most befitting.
Mr. Bah paid tribute to Professor E.J.D Thompson, who during his tenure in 2011/12, IPAM witnessed its most significant transformation, with the structures of the institute reviewed to Collegiate Structure, thereby creating a Faculty (initially one) and Departments, with Dr. O.O Akinsoye-Gbonda, who is still very active with the College, becoming the inaugural Dean of Faculty of the College.
The other significant development that took place during that same period was the establishment of the “IPAM Outreach: Reaching Out Reaching All for Higher Education.”
He disclosed that the University is indeed very proud of what the current Administration of IPAM, led by the indefatigable Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Edmond Nonie, is doing to not only consolidate but also to expand on the College’s Outreach Programme, spreading across eight
districts of the country – Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Kono, Kailahun, Pujehun and Lungi (Port Loko).
The Acting Registrar disclosed to the audience that the New IPAM now comprises of fourfaculties, ie: Faculty of Accounting & Finance, Faculty of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Leadership and Governance and the Faculty of Information Systems and Technology. These faculties offer new courses that meet the job market.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone Brigadier Professor FodaySahrstarted out by congratulating Professor Nonie and his Management, Faculty, Staff and Students for the 41 years of excellent development in academia. He pledged the continuous support of the University of Sierra Leone to IPAM.
He said the impact of IPAM’s Outreach Programme inspired a key pillar in the ongoing Re-engineering Project of the University of Sierra Leone, which has resulted to the establishment of the University Of Sierra Leone Institute Of Extramural Studies.
He called on staff of IPAM to continue to work for the development of Education in the country which is the key pillar of President Bio’s Agenda.
The keynote address was done by Madam TumaGentoKamara, the Chairperson for the National Revenue Authority. She congratulated all Students, Staff and Management of IPAM on their 41st Flag Raising Ceremony and reminded them that the flag of the institution is the symbol of ever-evolving aspirations to meeting the demands of the educational needs in this country. “With raising of this flag today, we are re-committing this institution to raising the standards thereby improving on societal outcomes,” she noted. The programme was climaxed by the official opening of a first class E-Learning Lab by DSTI.
