The outgoing Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie, has officially handed over the mantle ministerial leadership to the incoming Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie.

The ceremony, which took place at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), was called to order by the Ministry’s Senior Permanent Secretary, Gilbert Cooper.

MTHE’s Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brima, in his welcome address, expressed delight in receiving Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie to the Ministry’s humble cottage, while wishing the outgoing Minister (Prof. Alpha Wurie) well in his endeavors. He noted that the event marked the dawn of a new day, expressing hope for a pleasant and fruitful working relationship with the new Minister.

MTHE’s Deputy Minister, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, mentioned that a very strong foundation has been set by the Ministry with collaborative effort from its management, staff and subsidiary institutions, noting that it is a great opportunity to have a new beginning that is triggered by H.E. President Bio to help strengthen the foundation that has already been set at the Ministry.

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In his handing over speech, MTHE’s erstwhile Minister, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie, started off by thanking H.E. President Bio for giving him the opportunity to serve for five years both as Minster of Health and as Minister of Technical and Higher Education, adding that it is time he handed over the baton to someone young and vibrant in the person of Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie.

“Haja Ramatulai Wurie has a degree in Biochemistry, a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science, a Ph.D. in Medicine, and has published well over 50 academic papers. In the next 12 months, she would hopefully attain the rank of Professor. I think she is prepared and ready to take on this position,” he assured members present.

Prof. Alpha Wurie further entreated the incoming Minister to expand on human linkage especially with the Deputy Minister (Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara), noting that a Ministry would find it very difficult to thrive where there is rancor between its Minister and Deputy.

He commended Prof. Aiah Gbakima (his predecessor) for laying the ground work in starting the Universities Act and the Student Loan Scheme Fund Act of 2021 respectively, adding that he (Prof. Alpha Wurie) has ended a great work done by Prof. Gbakiima in promulgating those two Acts in Parliament.

According to Prof. Alpha Wurie, what is required to be done is to ensure that the technical universities do not lapse to social science universities, and that the universities of science and technology are strengthened.

He implored the Administration of Kono University of Science and Technology (KUST) to start its foundation course if it eventually receives the potential allocation from the Supplementary Government Budget that was read on 31st July, 2023. Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie further noted that although KUST is based in Kono, it is there to benefit the entire citizenry of Sierra Leone academic-wise.

The erstwhile Minister ended by entreating the entire management and staff of the Ministry to warmly receive Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie as their sister as well as work as a family.

MTHE’s incoming Minister, Dr. Haja Rmatulai Wurie, in her keynote address, thanked President Bio for giving young people the opportunity to serve, which according to her goes a very long way in providing inspiration for them.

“As young people we know that it is a huge task that we have been given to be placed in the driving seats to support national development, and we are very committed to ensuring that we perform the task at hand, work diligently with integrity and support the vision of His Excellency,” she assured the general public.

She thanked the Ministry for giving her a warm welcome, stating that it is very clear from the handing over document that lot of gains have been made, which in a way makes her job slightly easier. She entreated the management and staff of the Ministry to work jointly in a bid to consolidate those gains and build upon them in a manner that supports national development.

She then pointed out specific areas that the Ministry should consider in building upon those gains:

  • that the Ministry should develop focused curricular that speak to 21st century industry and that align with what the “Big Five” game changers are for the Government
  • that the Ministry should strengthen communication platforms both at intra and inter level
  • that the enabling environment be provided for persons with disability to easily access tertiary institutions without any form of structural barriers and that monitoring and evaluation frameworks be heightened in a bid to allow the Ministry to know where they have strength and where they need further support

In her vote of thanks, MTHE’s Director of Research Planning and Development, Sia Fasuluku, thanked all present for spearing their time to grace the occasion, expressing delight in their show of support. She expressed her sincere gratitude to President Bio for empowering women to take on leadership positions, and that she is fully convinced that they will deliver as a Ministry.

Credit: MTHE Comms Unit