18thApril 2026

Minister Hails IPAM’s Digital Leap: “I Should Be Spending My Fridays Here” In a visit to IPAM’s new ICT hub on 17th April 2026, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai, said she now wishes she could spend every Friday at the campus. Invited by Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Ezekiel Kalvin Duramany-Lakkoh to inspect the online examination infrastructure, the Minister watched a live demonstration led by IT Department Head Mr. Abass. Her opening remarks set the tone: “I bring you greetings from the Ministry. I am very happy with what I have seen so far.” She praised IPAM’s push for innovation, recalling a previous meeting with Professor Lakkoh:“A few months ago, when he visited my office, I told him about the MTHE’s vision. We are working on a multifunctional ICT infrastructure and skill set across all universities in Sierra Leone.” The new systems, she explained, will include a Ministry database, learning management systems for tertiary institutions, and AI-powered tools.“We need to improve efficiency and quality. We are going to ensure this initiative is institutionalized.”

Reflecting on her own teaching

experience at COMAHS, USL, she noted:“When I started in 2013, I had 35 students. Now it’s 165.

Imagine the burden of marking

those scripts. But when I learned our colleagues at IPAM marked more than 500 scripts, I forgot about the pain.” She described an AI-enhanced future:“The new learning management system will generate course materials, prepare questions, and perform quick analysis and marking of scripts. AI can generate multiple-choice questions, short answers, case studies, and critical thinking questions. It can provide detailed marking schemes for fair assessment.”

Concluding, she said:“What I have seen here is what we are working towards. I want to appreciate the transformation in the University of Sierra Leone and commend the leadership for innovation and digitization.” With missing grades and delayed results now“a thing of the past,”the Minister’s message was clear: IPAM is leading a digital revolution in higher education.

By

Tonya Musa Director of Communication and International Relations