University Secretariat, Njala Campus – 9th June 2025— Njala University’s School of Agriculture has on Thursday, 5th June 2025, convened a significant colloquium aimed at PhD. and MPhil candidates. Held with the support of the university administration, the event is part of a 10-day exercise designed to assess the progress of all students enrolled in research programs since 2020.
The colloquium, described by many attendees as a first-of-its-kind initiative within the school, gathered students, supervisors, and staff members for a series of research status presentations.
According to the Dean of the School of Agriculture, Professor Roland Suluku, the motivation behind the event was to dispel the notion that PhD and MPhil students inevitably spend over a decade completing their studies. “When I took over, I realized some students who enrolled as far back as 2020 had no known progress,” he explained. “This colloquium brings clarity to where they are, who their supervisors are, and what their projected timelines look like.”
Among the presenters was PhD. candidate Mr. Sahr Foday, who reported on his research into underutilized and neglected food crops in Sierra Leone, focusing on their impact on human health in Bo and Kenema districts. Mr. Foday detailed his journey through fieldwork, sample analysis, and lab testing conducted in partnership with various institutions. 
He expressed satisfaction with the feedback he received, noting that his supervisors, Professor Wadsworth and Dr. Sondai, have given him the go-ahead to proceed to his final post-field stage.
Conversations during the colloquium went beyond individual progress reports. Several speakers emphasized systemic challenges in agricultural research, particularly regarding laboratory infrastructure and funding. Professor Patrick Sawyer highlighted the high cost of running labs, estimating equipment and reagent costs in the millions. He stressed the importance of focusing research on high-impact areas, such as folic acid deficiency, which has significant public health implications for women. Others called for greater support and career development for technicians, who are critical to maintaining lab functionality.
Professor Suluku used the occasion to announce new accountability measures for research students. “From now on, every student must provide a detailed timeline—from literature review to data collection to final submission,” he stated. He also signaled stricter enforcement of deadlines: “If a candidate fails to appear before the panel with their supervisor by June 10, we will consider their PhD or MPhil program discontinued, unless justified.”
To address past weaknesses in student supervision, the Dean confirmed that the school now has an adequate number of qualified supervisors across its departments. “We have five professors already, and more are on the way. In cases where internal supervision is insufficient, we link students with external supervisors to ensure progress,” he said. The school is also planning to host weekly departmental research seminars.
Looking ahead, the School of Agriculture intends to institutionalize the colloquium and other academic check-ins as mandatory parts of the postgraduate experience. “You can’t earn an MPhil or PhD here without passing through presentations and seminar participation,” Professor Suluku affirmed. He drew on his own experience—having spent seven years completing his PhD—to illustrate the importance of institutional support and strict monitoring.
“We are building a culture of accountability and excellence. No more silent delays. Every student must stay on track—and we are here to ensure they do,” Professor Suluku assured.
Credit: Public Relations Unit, Njala University
