By Janet A. Sesay
Thirteen Sports Journalists have received certificates upon their completion of an intensive two-week short course in Sports Ethics, Administration and Management in Sports Reporting from the Human Kinetics and Sports Department of Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone.
The graduation ceremony of the thirteen successful Sports Writers took place on Saturday, 27th September 2025, at the multi-purpose hall at Fourah Bay College and was graced by the National Executive of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) and senior lecturers of the Department and the College.
The graduates include: Reginald Brian Sawyer, Bernard Turay, Mohammed Mustapha, Fatmata Kamara, Aruna Turay, Abubakarr S. Bangura, Alpha Barrie, Joseph Kargbo, Yayah A. Briama, Christian Campbell, Mohammed Reel Bangura, Hilton John and Mohamed Alie.
Chairman of the graduation ceremony, Brima Bah, the Deputy Registrar at the FBC described the two-week intensive training as “an impressive journey” noting the rigorous practical exercises the graduates went through in the hands of their tutors including himself.
He therefore described the graduates as “professionals” in their own rights as Sports Reporters, pointing out that being that they are the first set to successfully go through the course; they have become automatic Ambassadors of the programme to their colleagues, and encouraged more Sports Writers to apply in for the programme.
He thanked the FBC administration for incorporating the programme aimed at building the professional skills and working capacity of the country’s Sports Writers and Reporters to do their work within best practices.
He also congratulated the graduates for their commitment and openness to learn and wished them the best in their individual endeavours.
Sahr Morris Jnr. President of the Sports Writers Association Sierra Leone expressed his delight with emotion at seeing the first set of his colleagues graduate from the short training course, noting that it signifies the first step in the thousand miles of promoting professionalism and ethical conduct in the business of sports writing and reporting in Sierra Leone.
He recalled that since he took over the reins of the Presidency of SWASAL, he has focused on capacity building for being the bedrock for enhancing the professional and ethical disposition of Sports Writers in the country, with particular attention given to members of SWASAL who are his principal constituency.
President Morris noted that members can only report sports when they are adequately knowledgeable out the discipline they are reporting on, and that with this capacity, they can at best tell the sporting stories of their own country, away from foreign reporters who may not be conversant with the local sporting ecosystem and its dynamics.
He noted the “massive growth in sports journalism” in the country and expressed delight that SWASAL as the officially recognized sports writers association is being part of that growth and achievement.
He thanked the Human Kinetics and Sports Department at Fourah Bay College especially the HOD Dr. Francis, who he recognized as “a renowned Sports Administrator and Sports Journalist” for the opportunity to expose local sports writers and journalists to professional and ethical best practices as has been demonstrated by the two-week course. He seized the opportunity to call on members to take advantage of the training course as a way of ensuring deep-rooted professional reporting of sports in and out of the country.
He assured that SWASAL will continue to knock on the doors of the Human Kinetics and Sports Department for more training, pointing out that as President, he wishes to see his colleagues qualified in special reporting skills in all sporting disciplines undertaking in the country.
Alhaji Manika Kamara, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) said it is worth noting as a simple logic that there is no way someone can give what he or she does not have.
He said the graduation ceremony gives him great pride and joy to join the graduates in receiving their certifications that marks the successful completion of their short course training in Sports Ethics, Administration and Management for Sports Journalists, referring to the end of the course as “marking the beginning of a new chapter” in the professional journey of the graduates.
According to President Manika Kamara celebrating with SWASAL and the graduates is: “a celebration of learning, growth and renown commitment in elevating the standard of sports journalism in Sierra Leone,” while noting that sports apart from they being competitive; they are also a source of entertainment and global platforms for the entrenchment of unity, identity, economic resources and politics; as such he observed: “Sports journalism is critical and Sports Journalists as story tellers play the critical role of shaping narratives and inspiring communities by safe guarding integrity.”
He said through this short course training the graduates have been engaged with principles which are ethical to safeguard their reports, deepen their administrative understanding of sports’ structures and management to understand how the industry functions behind the scenes, and that course also ensures the graduates will uphold their responsibilities with integrity and fairness, pointing out that great journalism is more than reporting the game as it protects the souls of both reporters and listeners or watchers and readers. He congratulated the graduates and wished them the very best in their future endeavours.
The Dean Faculty of Arts of Fourah Bay College, Augustine Gamoh, a longstanding Journalist of repute and a former Public Affairs officer of SLAJ, expressed hope that the new-found collaboration and partnership between the College and SWASAL will grow from strength to strength, and congratulated the graduates and wished them well in their sports reporting careers.
Dr. Gina Momoh representing the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Fourah Bay College while congratulating the graduates, noted that the graduation ceremony marks not just the completion of a program but also the celebration of knowledge they have gained, skills they have developed and goals they will achieve.
He said the short courses serves as a stimulant for the continuous learning of the graduates as the certificates they have received serves as an essential heartbeat in that pursuit, and expressed delight that FBC is providing such opportunities for Journalists to learn.
The ceremony was climaxed by the signing and distribution of certificates by Dr. Gina Momoh to all thirteen deserving graduates.