By Dr. Tonya Musa
The Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of Sierra Leone, Professor Aiah Lebbie has assumed office today, 26 th February, 2024. He was appointed pursuant to Section 8(5) of The Universities Act No 5 2021 by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education with immediate effect.
His roles and responsibilities are spelt out in subsection 4 paragraphs (a-e) of the said Act. 
In addition, he is required to initiate the process of recruiting of a substantive Vice Chancellor and Principal, after the requisite consultations.
Professor Lebbie has assumed office at the time our newly admitted students to USL are waiting to matriculate, while graduating students are waiting for the 2024 Congregation. These are in addition to other pressing matters that need the approval or leadership of the Office of VC&P USL.
Some of these activities are the finalization and approval of the 2024 budget and the payment of salaries and allowances for February, 2024.
He had a brief meeting with the Acting Registrar, the Acting Finance Director and a cross section of the staff at the Secretariat for familiarization and to discuss his utmost agenda for the short period he is going to be acting as the VC&P.
Top of his agenda is USL going digital.
He wants to ensure that the USL website is highly professional and very active. In that light, the website should be populated with staff profiles, research works, departmental activities, and important collegiate information.
He is going to see that every relevant information meant for university rankings are provided on the USL website.
He also wants to see that lecturers and students access internet facilities on campus as part of the digital migration. He is prepared to source funds to support the digitalization process.
Prof Lebbie wants to organize the 2024 Congregation to be one of the best in Africa. To him, Congregation is an event of rebranding and marketing the university.
He will be meeting each of the DVCs in the respective campuses this week to discuss his vision and the preparations for matriculation and congregation.
