14th FEBRUARY 2026
DVC Calls for National Support as Fourah Bay College Approaches
Bicentenary
The countdown to the bicentenary celebration of Fourah Bay College (FBC) is officially
underway, with a resounding call for collective national action. Speaking at a fundraising
cocktail held at the Freetown Gulf Club, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Andrew
Baio, declared that the 200th-anniversary celebration transcends the institution itself,
marking a pivotal moment for the entire country.
"Two hundred years in the life of a
country could be a moment; two
hundred years in the life of a continent
could be a chapter. But two hundred
years of an institution dedicated to
transferring knowledge is a legacy that
has illuminated generations and shaped
history itself," Professor Baio stated in
his opening address.
He reminded attendees of the
College's profound historical significance, tracing its roots back to February 1827. "On this
soil, something extraordinary was born, the first institution of higher learning in modern
sub-Saharan Africa. FBC did not just open doors; it opened the minds of a continent,
earning the honour of being the 'Athens of West Africa'."
The DVC highlighted the College's legacy of producing pioneers who shaped the destiny
of Africa. "From this hub, we trained the pioneers: bishops, statesmen, and nation-builders
who carried the torch for nations across the continent. From Bishop Ajayi Crowther to
Samuel Lewis and Lathi Hyde, the trailblazers across Ghana and Nigeria, they were the
original crème de la crème."
Professor Baio emphasized that the bicentenary is not merely a commemoration but a
strategic opportunity for renewal and development. "This bicentenary is our collective
moment to rekindle that flame. It is a strategic renewal that will shape our very
development as a country."
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To secure this legacy and amplify FBC's future impact, the DVC unveiled a series of
ambitious development pillars for which funding is being sought. These critical projects
include:
Perimeter Fencing: To address the rampant encroachment and grabbing of FBC
land.
Sustainable Water Supply: Solving the perennial water shortage by expanding the
dam at Gloucester to preserve more water for the growing campus population, and
constructing storage facilities to harvest rainwater.
Private Sector Partnership: Exploring a partnership for a water bottling business,
capitalising on the natural springs near the college.
Bicentenary Monument: Erecting a monument facing the ocean to inspire future
generations and commemorate the College's 200-year milestone.
Education Endowment Fund: Establishing a fund to support vital research, student
scholarships,
staff
programmes.
development, conferences, seminars, and exchange
Multipurpose Building: Constructing a state-of-the-art facility with modern
technology to provide additional conference space, lecture halls, and offices.
Campus Road Resurfacing: Urgently resurfacing the 4-kilometer road across the
campus to reduce accidents, minimise noisy vehicular movement, and improve
access to the College.
Solar Energy Expansion: Investing in more solar panels to foster digitisation and
modernisation, enabling online course delivery and powering smart classrooms.
Professor Baio stressed that achieving these goals depends on the enduring bond
between all stakeholders. "We depend on the deep and enduring relations of our staff,
alumni, and students, from both FBC and Njala when it was a constituent college, as well
as the private sector and development agencies interested in higher education. I call on
everyone to support the bicentennial celebration."
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In a call to action for the alumni community, he announced an alumni meeting scheduled
for the 17th of February. The meeting will serve as a prelude to the flag-raising ceremony
marking FBC's 199th anniversary and will provide a platform for further discussion on
these transformative plans.
Professor Baio concluded by thanking the Bicentennial Committee for their diligent work
and expressing appreciation to the colleagues, professors, government functionaries, and
alumni dignitaries in attendance for their show of support.
By
Dr. Tonya Musa
Director of Communication and International Relations, University of Sierra Leone
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