Njala University has over the weekend supported President Bio’s human capital development (HCD) agenda by partnering with Sierra Leone’s Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, and the Medical Peace Foundation for the construction of the country’s first Emergency and Trauma Centre in the country at Moba Town, Moba Section, Kori Chiefdom, Moyamba District, in southern Sierra Leone.
The ceremony, for the commissioning of the construction phase of the project, was held on Friday 16th October ,2020 at the project site at Taiama, and was graced by the Chief Technical Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, representing the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Deputy Minister of Health 1, Dr. Anthony Sandi, acting Chairman Njala University Court, Joseph Munda Bindi, Paramount Chief Borbor Gbappie  IV of Kori Chiefdom, traditional leaders of Kori and Kamajei Chiefdoms and the media.
The Chairman of the ceremony, the acting Chairman of the court, Mr. Bindi, recounted that Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to South Korea, H.E. Kathos Jibao Mattai, had secured a fund amounting to USD thirty six thousand United States dollars (USD 36,000) from the Chairman of the Medical Peace Foundation in South Korea for the construction of the Madam Yoko Emergency and Trauma Care Centre at Kori Chiefdom.
Senior Academic and Administrative Staff of Njala University at the ceremony
He continued that, medical supplies, furniture and other equipment, worth thousands of dollars, had already been shipped into the country from South Korea to help equip the centre when eventually completed.
Njala University, he went on, was not only keen in providing the educational needs of the host communities but was also interested in providing the health needs of the people of the host communities, which, according to him, had propelled the University to partner with the country’s Ambassador in South Korea and the Chairman of the Medical Peace Foundation.
Chairman Bindi thanked the people of Kori Chiefdom for providing the land for the establishment of Njala University, and hinted that they might have to consider providing more land to accommodate the expanding nature of the University.
Paramount Chief Borbor Gbappie IV of Kori Chiefdom, while welcoming the dignitaries to the ceremony, disclosed that they were happy to witness the construction of the Emergency and Trauma Care Centre in his Chiefdom, and assured Njala University and the country of their willingness to provide land to support future development projects.
PC Borbor Gbapie 4 of Kori Chiefdom and wife at the ceremon
Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Sankoh, thanked his predecessors, the outgone Vice Chancellor and Principal and Pro-Vice Chancellor, in the persons of Professor Abdullah Mansaray and Professor Bob Kandeh, respectively, for working hard to bring such a laudable project to the people of Kori Chiefdom.
He gave a background to the origin of the project and cited the contribution of his predecessors, his administration and the Paramount Chief and People of Kori Chiefdom to the eventual commissioning of the project.
The acting Vice Chancellor and Principal assured the people of Kori that his administration, even in his absence as vice Chancellor and Principal, would put all the necessary resources and energy to ensure the project is brought to fruition.
Dr. Josephus Brimah, a representative of the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, emphasized the justification for the construction of such a facility in the country, especially taking into consideration the consequences of the eleven years rebel war and the high incidences of trauma cases in the country. He committed the support of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education to the project, which, according to him, is in tandem with the Government Human Capital Development project.
In his keynote address, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation 1, Dr. Anthony Sandi, commended the administration of Njala University for partnering with the Ambassador of South Korea to complement the Government of Sierra Leone’s flagship project.
He recounted that Njala University has a long history of contributing to the country’s health sector through the training of Community Health Officers and other middle and junior level health practitioners in the country. The Deputy Health Minister announced that the Ministry of Health would fully support the Hospital with subvention and other related issues to enhance the effectiveness of the centre. He lauded the geographical location of the centre and noted that it will help in addressing the many accidents occurring along the highway.
The Member of Parliament for Constituency0 98, Dominic Lavallie-Tshombie, urged the administration of Njala University and the contractor to make available the project’s document and the original designs of the project so as to put them in a proper footing to monitor the project.
Director of Physical Plant Services, Njala University, Mr. Santigie Sesay, presented the design of the project and the structure of the proposed complex.
Chief Executive Officer, Mogbwe Engineering and Construction Services, the contractor for the project, assured the participants present that his company would execute the project in record time and will fully utilize the locals in terms of available employment. He urged the community stakeholders to protect the property of the project so as to ensure that his company delivered as expected.
The Registrar of Njala University, who was responsible for largely coordinating the highly successful commissioning ceremony, had earlier on introduced the Chairman of the ceremony, the acting Chairman of Court, Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi.
The climax of the ceremony was the pouring of libation by the traditional people of Kori Chiefdom to officially commence the construction process.
Credit: Public Relations Officer, Njala University.