Sierra Leone Club of Columbus, Ohio State University and Njala university collaboration...
 |
The 183 years old (1827-2010) University of Sierra Leone is about to
have an exceptional face lift through collaborative efforts by
Diaspora (USA) and their alumni universities.
Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States of America H. E.
Bockarie K. Stevens on March 15, 2010, hosted a delegation from The
Ohio State University led by the University's Veterinary Preventive
Medicine Department. Prof. and Chair William J. A. Saville, DVM,
PhD. Diplomat ACVIM, College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine,
Executive Director William D. Hueston, DVM, PhD., Global Initiative
for Food System Leadership, University of Minnesota and Assistant
Prof. of Clinicals Fernando Silveira, DVM., Department of
Veterinary. Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University.
The meeting was organized by the Sierra Leone Club of Columbus Ohio
(SLCCO).
The delegation was headed by the club's President Mr. Abass M.
Bangura and Ohio APC Chapter Director of fundraising and Recruiting
Mr. Ahmed Kanu. Also representing the S.L. embassy were Deputy
Ambassador H. E. Alhaji Ibrahim Conteh and First Secretary Mr. Saspo
Ibrahim Sankoh.
The SLCCO's President Mr. Abass M. Bangura thanked Ambassador
Bockarie K. Stevens for gracing the meeting, and immensely thanked
The Ohio States University delegation for taking time out leaving
their busy schedules to come to Washington, D.C. to brief the
Ambassador. He updated him on the progress of the project which
started in 2006. The university invited former President Dr. Ahmed
Tejan Kabba, in 2006 but he sent his Vice President Solomon Berewa
who paid an official visit at The Ohio State University. After the
Rebel War (1991-2001), the rebels plundered the university beyond
recognition and the concentration has been on resuscitating
agriculture for which the university is well known. At present, the
two colleges have no advance laboratories. The Club president Mr.
Abass M. Bangura stressed the club's need to solicit the support of
the ambassador which is crucial for the success of the project. The
former Ambassador
H. E. Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh visited The Ohio State University (OSU)
during his tenor in the United States. Oh behalf of the university,
the Chairman of the School of Veterinary and Preventive Medicine has
again sent an official invitation to the nation's president Dr.
Ernest B. Koroma to visit the school in 2010. The invitation has yet
to be responded to by the head of state.
Mr. Ahmed Kanu thanked Dr. William J.A. Saville and his colleagues.
He further expresses his gratitude to Ambassador Stevens for giving
both the SLCCO and the OSU team the opportunity to brief him on the
progress of the project. He stated that the project is a dual
purpose development in Sierra Leone's collaboration in developing
the Veterinary Institution.
Also, he added that the club's president Mr. Bangura, Dr. Fernando
Silveira and himself visited Sierra Leone for a two week feasibility
study. They went to Njala University and the Makeni research
laboratory. They were also able to meet and discuss the project with
the Minister of Mineral Resources and Political Affairs, Alhaji
Alpha Sahid Kanu, the Minister of Agriculture Hon. Dr. Sesay and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Zainab Bangura. They were all
extremely happy and appreciative of our effort and the project.
The collaboration between the Ohio State and Njala University will
lead to student exchange program in the future. He further mentioned
that they are currently working hard at soliciting funding to make
these dreams possible. Mr. Kanu concluded by thanking the President
of The Ohio State University Dr. Gordon Gee, who is supportive of
Global initiatives for giving his blessings to this important
project. And prayed that the efforts of all those involved shall not
go in vain.
The Commonwealth of Virginia (USA)'s George Mason University is
about to take the lead in its proposed nationwide five campuses
extensions. In a slow but determined way, the Sierra Leone Club of
Columbus Ohio (SLCCO) is on its way to inject a newer life into the
46 year old Njala Univeersity, the nation's second largest
University campus. The universities of Minnesota and Illinois have
been the longest serving sister universities of Njala University as
has been the 183 years affiliation between London's Durham
University and the university system (USL) as a whole.
The SLCCO members have been working very hard to add The Ohio State
University on the list of sister Universities to Sierra Leone
colleges, a position which haves been occupied by London's Durham
University, Minnesota and Illinois Universities.
As well, the SLCCO is partnering with The Ohio State University to
establish a Veterinary Department. If successful, the Njala
University will be the first and only University in the African
continent to be in the fore front in modern science to be able to
inseminate animals (Goats and Sheep). This process will enable a
single goat or sheep to produce a minimum of fifty or more off
spring per year.
Prof. Silveira mentioned that Sierra Leone's agriculture can compete
with any developed nation. The livestock- goats, sheep and cows has
a potential to be as competitive as any other country as well. He
reiterated that some students at The Ohio State University
Veterinary Department have chosen Njala University out of a list of
many African Universities presented to them. Dr. Silveira and a team
of students will depart from the United States in July 2010, for a
few weeks study at the Njala University in which the SLCCO will
donate insemination equipments to be used during the visit. After a
thorough examination of the Njala facility and talking to Professor
Saidu Kanu and Dr. Abdul Rahman Sesay, the University's liaison
official of the project, Dr. Silveira stated that there are immense
opportunities both Universities will benefit.
Further, Dr. Silviera narrated that the SLCCO has dedicated members
who kept The OSU interested in undertaking this project in Sierra
Leone.
The SLCCO members demonstrated an ideological approach by starting
small and gathering momentum is the best way to ensure
sustainability of the ambitious and robust program. In that regard,
The OSU has expressed its support of the program in the initial
stage and look forward to moving the project to the next level.
In as much, Dr. Silveira added that he identified the goat project
that ran into problems pertaining transportation from Kenya to
Sierra Leone sponsored by a British Agency. However, the problem can
be solved by implementing animal insemination techniques that would
enable training both Njala and The Ohio State students to accomplish
their respective goals.
The Deputy Ambassador Alhaji Ibrahim Conteh who had also visited The
OSU thanked the delegates for choosing Sierra Leone which badly
needed assistance after the destruction done by the rebels during
the Rebel War that destabilized the health, educational and the
entire social fabric of the nation. Therefore, such a program is
excellent for our educational institution that would once more set
Njala University and Sierra Leone as an advance scientific model for
Africa.
Dr. William D. Hueston who represented the University of Minnesota
stated that both Universities had enjoyed a very pleasant
relationship through the years. The Rebels destruction of the
University was very sad. And that the University of Minnesota and
the Department of Veterinary and Medicine would like to see the
project move forward.
Professor William J. A. Saville of the OSU asked about
infrastructures in existence because veterinary equipments are
expensive
The Ambassador in his contribution thanked both The Ohio State
University delegates and the Sierra Leone Club of Columbus Ohio
(SLCCO), for their exemplary dedication. The club is a pace setter
worth emulating by similar organizations, he contended.
In answering to Dr. William Saville's question, Ambassador Stevens
stated that the rebels destroyed most of Njala University. As a
result, there are almost no infrastructures that could be utilized
by the project. The President Dr. Ernest B. Koroma made the
University a high priority to become operational again at the
earliest possible time by making bi-monthly inspection visits. It is
now operational, but it needs to be more equipped. Thus, the
collaboration project to improve agriculture and the proposed animal
insemination is the most ideal help both the college and the nation
would need that can significantly benefit the people.
The Ambassador concluded that the kind of development the country
expect is to have local nurses and medical technicians trained to
assist in all areas of the medical profession. They will be sent to
the provinces where they can in turn train others to work in
villages and other local communities.
By Arolyn I. Koroma, Washington, D.C., USA
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 11:08 PM