BY MUSTAPHA SUMA
The United Methodist University – Sierra Leone, on 5th April 2025 held its 2nd Convocation for the Conferment of Degrees and Award of Diplomas and Certificates—a ceremony held at the Siaka Stevens Campus on King Harman Road, Freetown.
In his capacity as Chancellor of the United Methodist University – Sierra Leone, Bishop James Boye-Caulker had the distinctive honoured to confer Degrees and Award Diplomas and Certificates to graduands who were being certified as worthy by the University.
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Ibrahim Stevens, who also doubles as the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, in his address, underscored that the graduation is a testament to the United Methodist Church’s commitment to education across Sierra Leone and beyond.
Speaking on the theme: “Growing and sustaining a private University in Sierra Leone, opportunities and challenges”, Dr Stevens highlighted that this is a moment of joy, reflection and anticipation of the many opportunities ahead.
“You all have faced significant challenges, overcome obstacles, and countless sacrifices—yet through resilience, determination and commitment to excellence, you have come thus far”, he noted.
Dr Stevens, while expressing gratitude to the university for this great honour to serve as Guest Speaker at the 2nd convocation, called on graduands to be true ambassadors of the university, noting that they have been equipped with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to thrive in the increasingly complex world.
Welcoming distinguished guests, graduands and families, Mrs Yeabu Kamara, Pro-Chancellor of the United Methodist University, maintained that it is an honour to witness the graduation ceremony as it signifies major achievements. “This is a moment of great joy”, she said.
The Chancellor, Bishop James Boye-Caulker, in his address, congratulated the graduates and stated that their parents also deserve congratulations from management, faculty and staff of the university.
Bishop Boye-Caulker acknowledged the continued support and good work from both the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and the Tertiary Education Commission—and expressed his profound thanks and appreciation.
“Friends, another sub-theme for this congregation is to reminiscence the events from which the university emerged and the purpose for which it was founded. This is central to the vision of the late Bishop John Kpahun Yambasu”, Bishop James Boye-Caulker paid a special tribute and asked the congregation to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late Bishop John Kpahun Yambasu.
Bishop Boye-Caulker further recalled that at the 2009 129th Sessions of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference, the late Bishop Yambasu delivered his maiden Episcopal address titled “Vision 2020”. That address, he said, unveiled a 10-year strategic plan for the United Methodist in Sierra Leone. Several projects were proposed to be implemented, and the University was featured in that strategic plan as a special initiative, which is today the United Methodist University.
“The late Bishop’s initiative then, is alive today and of course, seen as a project with goals, objectives, processes and measurable outcomes. Today’s graduands are part of the measurable outcomes the university is accounting for”, the Chancellor, Bishop Boye-Caulker referenced.
Bishop Boye-Caulker stated that he is committed to the growth and sustainability of the university—a commitment will be translated into resource provision with the following as his priorities: establishing an endowment fund, constructing a state-of-the-art learning facility, scholarships initiatives, research, partnership and exchange programs. “Growing and sustaining this university is critical to me as education is fundamental to my episcopal journey”, he said.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, of United Methodist University, Prof. Ekundaya Thompson, spoke on the second sub-theme: “creating learning spaces”, stated that over the last 8 years since the establishment of the university, their collective energies have been concentrated on the processes of structuring the university—establishing the governance administration, while systems and processes have been strategic and tactically geared towards addressing the fundamentals needs of the university.
The Rev. Prof. George Munda Carew, in recognition of his distinguished and faithful services to academia and particularly to the United Methodist University – Sierra Leone, as a tribute from the entire faculty and staff, was commended publicly and named by the University Council to the rank of Professor Emeritus.
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education was represented by Dr. Josephus Brima, and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) by Prof. A. M Alghali.
©United Methodist Communications – SLAC
