Honourable Vice-President
Mr Speaker of Parliament
Honourable Chief Justice
Mr Pro Chancellor and Chairman of University Court
Vice Chancellor
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Officers, Faculty and Staff
Graduands and Students
Ladies and Gentlemen:

We did it last year, and the year before. However, if I remember well, on both occasions it was done about two or three minutes into the Chancellor's address. Today, I would like us to do it differently - at the very beginning, and make it a tradition. I now call on you all to give the new graduands a hearty and enthusiastic round of applause.

I congratulate all graduands on your individual achievement. The whole country is proud of you. I am sure you are also proud of this great university and all those who have contributed to your success.

As I told your colleagues a year ago, the accolade you have just received is not an end in itself. It is a key to other doors. Let me add that your success is yours, but not yours alone. Soon you will venture into the world to assume new responsibilities and face new challenges. You will be sharing your newly acquired knowledge with others, in your capacities as teachers, private entrepreneurs, social and public service workers, farmers or research fellows. In other words, today you have been given an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to our society.

And speaking of opportunity, Mr Vice Chancellor, I consider the ceremony we are witnessing here today as important as one I had the honour of presiding over about three weeks ago - the launching in Kambia of our "Sababu" or opportunity education project. On that occasion we literally planted some precious seedlings in the field of education. In a few years some of them will be transplanted to campuses of the colleges and other institutions of higher education in this country. They will be watered and nurtured to flourish and yield fruits such as those we are sending out into the world today in this Convocation.

The price tag of the "Sababu" project is forty million US dollars making it the largest single investment in the history of education in Sierra Leone. That and other investments mean more primary, junior secondary, technical and vocational schools throughout the country, and much greater opportunity for our children and young people to acquire skills that will equip them for full integration into the mainstream of society.

"Everyone has the right to education," so says the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our own Constitution also assures every citizen an equal right and access to all opportunities and benefits, including the opportunity to be educated to the best of his or her ability. The full realization and enjoyment of that basic human right demand that we continue to invest in education. On this occasion, as Chancellor of this University and also in my capacity as Head of State, I would like to reiterate my commitment, and the commitment of my Government to continue to invest in primary, secondary, vocational/technical and tertiary education. Investment also involves the restructuring of our educational system to ensure that it responds to the changing conditions and needs of the country.

In 1996 a Committee under the Chairmanship of Professor Ernest H. Wright, was mandated to review the structure of tertiary education in Sierra Leone. One of its recommendations was the creation of polytechnics. Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, and the Eastern Polytechnic became fully operational in 2001. A Northern Polytechnic, centred in Makeni, will start operations in the 2004/2005 academic year.

The Committee also recommended expansion of the University of Sierra Leone into a minimum of two full-fledged universities. In this regard, a new University Act is receiving the attention of parliament and should be enacted in the early part of 2004. Ladies and gentlemen, this may therefore be the last convocation of a unitary university system in Sierra Leone.

My government expresses its appreciation to Professor Ernest Wright, who is today presiding over the last Convocation as Vice Chancellor of the unitary University of Sierra Leone as well as to all past Vice Chancellors since the creation of the University in 1972. We would also like to pay tribute to Professor Victor Strasser-King, who has served his two terms as Principal of Fourah Bay College. He has made a distinctive contribution to the implementation of the restructuring process.

Distinguished members of this Congregation, the principle of true democracy must permeate every strata and every sector of our society. Changes in leadership should always be made by peaceful means, and according to law; according to established rules and regulations. Both academic dons are now bowing out from administrative positions as prescribed in the Statute of the University. A similar move was the recent change in the command and control of the Military, with Major General Carew giving way to Major General Sam Mboma. In like manner, I shall bow out in 2007 when my constitutional term as President comes to an end. That is the way, the only way it should be. It is my fervent hope that constitutional and peaceful transfer of power will soon be entrenched as the order of the day rather than the exception, in this our beautiful country.

Mr Vice Chancellor, turning to the human resources of the University, I would like to assure you that I am aware of the urgent need, among other things, to improve the conditions of service of faculty as well as intermediate and junior staff by increasing the annual subvention for effective teaching, research and community outreach services.

In this regard, as in other countries, Government needs the support of the private sector and other non-governmental bodies. The private sector should support specific departmental and faculty programmes through endowments and other means. Some of the best universities in the world, even in Africa are private and privately funded institutions. Competition from private institutions should help increase the academic options, improve on quality delivery, and significantly reduce the burden on Government as the sole provider of higher education in the country. These are all being taken into consideration in the proposed new University Act. I would like to renew my appeal to industry and the private sector to complement government's efforts as partners in, and beneficiaries of the development of higher education. We would recall the invaluable contribution that religious institutions have made to the development of education at all levels in this country.

The university also needs sustenance from its alumni at home and abroad. The university must become more proactive in seeking alumni funding.

Mr Vice Chancellor, in universities, including our own, students learn all the isms of classical and contemporary philosophy, such as realism, idealism, pragmatism, existentialism and other isms of great thinkers, from Plato to Kant, from Hobbes to Hegel, and from John Stuart Mill to Bertrand Russell. Recently, I posed the question: "suppose we had a concept or school of thought called "sierraleonism"? What would be the main tenets of such a concept?

I raised the question in the context of what I believe is the need for us Sierra Leoneans to clearly identify our shared core values - strong ethical values that would be hallmarks of the nation; values that comprise our common beliefs, our common aspirations, indeed our national code of conduct that should guide us in all our endeavours.

Mr Vice Chancellor, a nation without values is like a house without a foundation. As a centre of learning, of knowledge, and as an arbiter of discipline, I am sure that the University of Sierra Leone can become a catalyst in the process of shaping and inculcating the seven national values that I recently identified and formally proposed for our consideration.

As I put it, we Sierra Leoneans should be identified not merely by our national costumes, our physical features, or by our agricultural, mineral and marine resource. We should also be identified by our strong ethical values, based on our common beliefs, our distinctive ideals, by what we stand for, by what we detest, by what we resent, and by what we collectively embrace in the interest of our country. The seven values that I propose we embrace are resourcefulness, excellence, tolerance, good neighbourliness, generosity, honesty and self-esteem.

The first two values, resourcefulness and excellence, could well serve as the theme for this Congregation, and I will concentrate on them. This of course does not mean that the other five are any less important. I enjoin all of us present here today, as well as all Sierra Leoneans to make a solemn pledge to work towards achievement of all seven values. I have always admired the resourcefulness of our University. The fact that we are here today recognising the academic achievement of 222 men and women in various disciplines - 34% more than last year's convocation, is a testimony to the ingenuity, creativity, and dedication of its faculty and staff. I commend you for the individual and collective contributions you render beyond the call of duty.

In spite of enormous constraints, the University of Sierra Leone continues to maintain its function as the main reservoir of quality higher education in the country. It continues to provide direction in our quest for access to education for all. We note for example, that it has initiated access programmes in some scientifically based disciplines. Student enrolment in science and technology has almost doubled in the past two academic years, from 105 to 208.

At the same time, this Congregation would be pleased to know that the University is developing and consolidating a number of degree programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The expansion of post-graduate degree programmes that are more directly relevant to the development goals and objectives of the country is encouraging.

In order to meet the growing demand for access to tertiary education, the University is exploring the possibility of establishing and diversifying its distant education scheme. The momentum towards distant learning has increased. One example of this trend is the Commonwealth Youth Development Diploma programme, which is already underway in the University of Sierra Leone in cooperation with other African universities, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Commonwealth. Another is the training of teachers in the rural areas by distance education through the Freetown Teachers College.

These initiatives show clearly that Sierra Leone is well on the way to establishing a firm base for further training of the large number of students that are the successful implementation of the SABABU education project which we launched a few weeks ago.

The past academic year has also registered an expansion of linkages with educational and research institutions abroad. These linkages have produced new academic programmes and enhanced the research capacity of the university. The new Bachelors degree programme in Commerce, and the expansion of the Peace and Conflict studies programme to degree level courses are noteworthy examples of these linkages. All the examples I have just referred to amply illustrate the resourcefulness of our University.

Mr Vice Chancellor, there is no other institution that symbolises the value of excellence than the university. Excellence in the arts, science and other academic disciplines has been the hallmark of the 127 years of university education in this country. The University of Sierra Leone as presently constituted has the capacity to foster the value of excellence. This capacity will be further strengthened under the new structures that would emerge under the new University Act.

The pursuit of excellence does not imply perfection. It means that we should set our aspirations, our goals and objectives in any walk of life, as high as possible. We must pursue them steadfastly, step by step, despising mediocrity all the way, and maintaining the will to achieve the best. The pursuit of excellence is not an impossible dream. It is attainable. For, as Horace said over two thousand years ago, "Nil mortalibus ardui est. Dimidium facti qui coepit habet" -- No height is too arduous for mortal men. He who has begun his task has half done it.

Graduands, you have heard the message. Consider that while you deserve the highest commendation for what you have achieved, and for the degrees, diplomas, certificates and licences you have received as symbols of your success, you have only just begun. There is a whole world of new challenges ahead of you, more hills to climb, and more rivers to cross. As you leave this ceremony, remember that you are not just a product, but an illustrious alumnus or alumna of a great national institution, in your own right.

Remember also your responsibility to uphold with pride and dignity the legacy of the erudite Adjai Crowther, Milton Margai, Davidson Nicol, Lati Hyde-Foster, Eldred Durosimi Jones, S.T. Matturi, Newman-Smart, Henry Joko-Smart and other sons and daughters who pursued and instilled excellence in their respective fields by way of this university.

One of the principal characteristics of that legacy is that all of them gave something back to their alma mater, something in the service of their country. I have no doubt you can and will do the same.

Before I end let me take the opportunity to remind us all, of the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Although indications are that the plague has not got to the level as in other parts of Africa, it is incumbent on us all to ensure that we practice safe sex and use condoms so as to prevent an increase in the level of infection in our country. As part of our educated elite, I ask you to educate your colleagues, parents and all members of the community and to remember to support all those who are afflicted and discourage their stigmatisation. Working together, we should spread the word.

Continue to pursue your goals. Continue to give of your best, and to demand the best in all your future endeavours.

Once again, Congratulations! And may God, may Allah bless you all.

-End-