27th March 2026 NEW COHORT MATRICULATES AT FOURAH BAY COLLEGE, USHERING IN BICENTENNIAL ERA In a ceremony rich with tradition and historical significance, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Fourah Bay College (FBC), Professor Andrew Baio, officially welcomed the newest cohort of students to the University of Sierra Leone on March26, 2026. The matriculation ceremony, held at the Ajayi Crowther Amphitheater, marked a pivotal moment as the institution stands on the precipice of its 200th anniversary. The occasion drew a full assembly of the administrative and academic staff of both the College and the University. Representing the Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Aiah Lebbie, was the Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor James Russell, whose presence underscored the unity of the University’s leadership. Robed in full academic regalia, the matriculants stood in solemn anticipation as they prepared to take the oath of allegiance and sign the register, an act that formally inaugurated them as bona fide students of the oldest Western-style university in West Africa. A Covenant, Not a Transaction Welcoming the students with palpable enthusiasm, Professor Baio immediately reframed the significance of the moment. “It is with a profound sense of optimism that I welcome you today at the Mount Aureol Campus of Fourah Bay College, USL,” he began. “This is my first matriculation as your Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Yet, as I stand before you, I am aware that this ceremony is not about me. It is about us. It is about a covenant we enter today, a covenant between this Institution, the oldest University in West Africa, and you, its newest custodians.” The Deputy Vice Chancellor reminded students that they were entering an institution of immense legacy, one that has produced heads of state, Supreme Court justices, and literary giants. “You are not merely entering a college; you are entering a living archive of African intellectualism,” he said. “Fourah Bay College, you must be intentionally informed, is already in its bicentennial countdown. Two hundred years. For nearly two centuries, this institution has been a lighthouse on Mount Aureol, a beacon that has dispelled the darkness of ignorance in Freetown and across the diaspora.” Professor Baio declared the incoming class the “Bicentennial Cohort,” noting that the eyes of the academic world would soon be fixed upon them. Three Imperatives for Transformation Challenging the students to aim higher than mere academic credentials, the DVC urged them to pursue transformation over transaction. “Let us do away with the notion that you are here merely to obtain a degree,” he stated. “That will be transactional. You are here for a transformation.” He charged the matriculants with three imperatives: Academic Rigor, Ethical Citizenship, and Resilience and Adaptability. Warning against the pitfalls of the digital age, he advised: “In an age of artificial intelligence and instant information, do not confuse data with wisdom. The hallmark of a Fourah Bay College graduate is the ability to think critically, to interrogate facts, and to construct arguments with precision. Engage your lecturers. Challenge ideas. Be purposeful in your intellectual appetite. The library is not merely a building; it is a sanctuary. Treat it as such.” On integrity, he was unequivocal: “We do not need graduates who are merely clever; we need graduates who are just. The moral foundation of this nation rests on your shoulders. As you navigate these four or five years, let integrity be your currency. Do not cheat. Do not cut corners. Do not take drugs. Maintain a sound mind. The degree you earn must be a true representation of your capacity, for the nation will trust that degree.” Acknowledging the difficulties ahead, Professor Baio drew strength from the institution’s physical and symbolic foundation. “The journey ahead will test you. There will be administrative challenges, personal doubts, and the weight of expectation. Yet, remember that the granite of Mount Aureol is not soft. It is hard. It endures. You are the granite.” A Call to Staff and a Look to the Future Turning to the faculty and administration, the Deputy Vice Chancellor issued a call to action in anticipation of the bicentenary. “To academic staff: let us rekindle the fire of research and mentorship. Let us produce knowledge that solves the problems of Sierra Leone and the world. To the administrative staff: you are the unseen architects of this institution. Your efficiency creates the space where excellence can thrive.” As the ceremony approached its climax, Professor Baio directed the students’ attention to the historic register they were about to sign. “Matriculants, in a few moments, you will sign the matriculation register. You will be entering your names into the same rolls that contain the names of the giants like Ajayi Crowther and Lati Hyde who came before you. When you leave this auditorium, you will be different. You will no longer be visitors. You will be at Fourah Bay College.” Concluding with a declaration for the ages, he charged the new students to honor the legacy they now inherit. “As we stand on the eve of 200 years, let us declare that the third century of this college will be greater than the first and the second. Let us declare that the darkness of ignorance will continue to be dispelled by the light that shines from this hill. Go forth with courage. Engage with intensity. And make this bicentennial year one that will be written in golden letters in the annals of history.” By Dr. Tonya Musa Director of Communications and International Relations University of Sierra Leone