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A civic laying-out ceremony held at The New City Hall Auditorium on Thursday, 25th June, 2026, brought together government officials, members of the legal fraternity, university leaders, and family to honour Honourable Justice Nyawo Finda Matturi-Jones, the former Supreme Court Judge and founding Chancellor of the Kono University of Science and Technology (KUST), who died on 4 May 2026.
More than a celebration of rank, the ceremony highlighted Justice Matturi-Jones’s role as a mentor, institution builder and tireless advocate for women’s advancement. Born on 28 August 1950 in Jaiama Nimikoro, Kono District, she trained in England and was called to the Bar in 1979. Her career trajectory—from Kono to the Supreme Court bench became a blueprint for young lawyers, especially women from underrepresented districts.
Speakers repeatedly emphasised Justice Matturi-Jones’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of legal minds. Alpha Sesay Esq., Attorney General and Minister of Justice, noted her long record of mentoring junior lawyers and law students, saying her guidance helped shape careers across the country. Colleagues described her courtroom presence as exacting but fair, and her private counsel as generous and formative.
Her son, Robert Jones, recalled a mother who combined professional rigour with personal warmth, mentoring not only her own children but also many young professionals who sought her counsel. The family’s testimony framed her public achievements within a life devoted to lifting others.
As Chancellor of KUST after retiring from the bench, Justice Matturi-Jones moved beyond ceremonial duties to play a hands-on role in establishing governance structures, academic standards and legal frameworks for the fledgling university. Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, speaking for the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, credited her with ensuring that the university’s growth was anchored in sound institutional practice and accountability.
Prof. Tamba Jamiru, Vice Chancellor and Principal of KUST, described her as a servant leader whose insistence on integrity and process helped the university transition from concept to a functioning institution with a clear mission for the Kono region and beyond.
The ceremony underscored Justice Matturi-Jones’s symbolic importance as Kono District’s first female lawyer and judge. Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, framed the late jurist’s life as a barrier-breaking example that would continue to inspire girls and young women. Attendees highlighted how her ascent to the Supreme Court and later stewardship of a national university challenged entrenched expectations and widened possibilities for women in law and academia.
Tributes at the laying-out ceremony painted a portrait of a jurist whose discipline, humility and public service strengthened confidence in Sierra Leone’s institutions. Speakers from government, the legal community and local government reflected on a career that combined legal excellence with civic responsibility, and on a personal character marked by faith and selflessness.
A book of condolence was opened at The New City Hall Auditorium. Funeral arrangements and further memorial events will be announced by the family. The turnout of officials, academics and community members signalled broad recognition of a life that reshaped professional pathways and institutional life in Sierra Leone.
