The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone, conferred degrees, diplomas, and certificates to 1,500 graduates on December 18, 2024. The ceremony at the Adjai Crowther Amphitheatre, Mount Aureol, Freetown, celebrated the graduates’ academic excellence, resilience, and achievements.
The event was graced by government officials, members of parliament, university leadership, and academic staff.
Presiding over the ceremony, the Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, Paramount Chief Dr. Margaret Catherine Baio-Gbanie IV, praised the institution’s resilience amid global and local challenges, including the impact of COVID-19. She emphasized the importance of leveraging university resources to drive growth and innovation. Dr. Baio-Gbanie urged graduates to act as ambassadors of the university and use their skills for societal development. Highlighting the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, she called for critical engagement with AI to inform university policies and ensure its productive application.
Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education Sarjoh Aziz Kamara, who represented the Minister, Dr. Ramatulai Wurie, commended the graduates for their hard work and perseverance. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to education as a key pillar of President Julius Maada Bio’s human capital development agenda. Kamara applauded IPAM’s 44-year contribution to national development by producing professionals across various sectors and encouraged graduates to embody the values of excellence and professionalism as they contribute to national and global progress.
Hafsatu Kamara, the best-performing student with a degree in Banking and Finance and a GPA of 3.96, expressed her gratitude and shared her desire to mentor future students, particularly young women, in achieving academic success.
Jusu Gandi, the best-performing male student in Public Sector Management with a GPA of 3.75, reflected on his academic challenges and highlighted perseverance as the key to success, urging current students to remain focused on their goals.
The degree conferment ceremony reaffirmed IPAM’s dedication to fostering academic excellence and producing skilled professionals for Sierra Leone’s development. Graduates were encouraged to use their education as a catalyst for positive change while upholding the values and legacy of the University of Sierra Leone.
