Sierra Leonean and US-Based Philanthropist Donates to Njala University

By:  Alhaji Umaru Gbow

Njala University- 30th January 2021- Sierra Leonean and United State based philanthropist, Madam Josephine Garnem who also doubles as the CEO and founder of the Khalil Garnem Foundation has on Friday 29th January 2021 donated computer items, accessories, teleconference equipment, and sociology textbooks worth thirty-five thousand United State dollars to the School of Community Health Sciences, Kowama location, Bo Campus.

The brief presentation was witnessed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Bo campus, Professor Mohamed Syed Fofanah, Resident Minister South, Mr. Mohamed E.K. Alieu, Dean School of Community Health Sciences, Dr. Rashid Ansumana, Acting Deputy Registrar Mr. Anthony Habib Kamara, ICT Director Thomas Philip Songu, and other senior members of staff.

Madam Josephine Garnem while making the presentation disclosed that as a medic she undertakes frequent medical missions to Sierra Leone and was moved by the lack of computer facilities at the School of Community Health Sciences which had once hosted an international Medical Care and Emergency Assistance training.

The philanthropist pinpointed that while the training had the best trainers from around the world, the lack of computer facilities at the School of Community Health Sciences which had hosted in 2018 a Medical and Training Mission organized and led by Ms.Garnem with the goal of strengthening clinical skills of health care professionals through mentoring and hands-on-teaching opportunities from health experts and specialists from across the world. Health workers and medical students including nurses and public health students of Njala University were trained in primary and urgent health care as well as certification in Basic and BASIC DHS ( Basic Assessment and support in interim care for developing Healthcare systems.

She lauded the strides made by the University staff over the years to promote teaching and learning amidst the lack of the necessary equipment and laboratories and specifically dedicated to the donation to her late father whom she indicated was also a philanthropist and an educationist who had Njala University very close to his heart.

Professor Fofanah Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Bo campus while receiving the items thanked the US-based philanthropist for addressing a felt need of the University.

The DVC reported that Njala University is hugely constrained with a lack of teaching laboratories and that her donation was timely and assured her that the University would make sure that the students who are the beneficiaries would benefit from the gesture.

Director ICT, Thomas Philip Songu gave an overview of the current status of ICT infrastructure at Njala University and the strides by his Department to improve Learning Management platforms, especially against the COVID-19 period.

He thanked Madam Josephine and assured her of his Department's commitment to further strengthened and leverage ICT systems to aid teaching, learning, and research in the University.

Student Union President Bo campus Ishmael Koroma on behalf of the general student body thanked Madam Josephine for the gesture and indicated that this would strengthen the technological and research capacity of the University.

Resident Minister South, Mr. Mohamed E.K. Alieu thanked the US philanthropist on behalf of the Government and the people of Bo and requested more support to Njala University to realize the huge potentials for which the institution was established for.

Dean School of Community Health Sciences, Dr. Rashid Ansumana earlier on gave the background to the donation and lauded Madam Josephine Garnem for the gesture noting that she has contributed severally to Sierra Leone and assured her the School of Community Health Sciences would make very good use of the items to promote teaching and learning.

Mr. Anthony Habib Kamara, Acting Deputy Registrar, Bo Campus had effectively anchored the brief but well-coordinated ceremony and had also used the occasion to thank the founder and CEO on behalf of the Administration for such a donation which according to him was badly needed by the University.

The climax of the ceremony was the symbolic handing over of the twenty-six desktop computers fully installed with windows ten software and anti-virus systems, additional CPUs, computer accessories, teleconference systems, and cartoons of sociology textbooks.

The donation ceremony according to Madam Josephine Garnem had also marked the official launching of the Khalil Garnem Foundation which according to her is primarily dedicated to her late father, Mr. Khalil Garnem a native of Bo District who died in Sierra Leone some few years as a result of lack of medical care during a prolonged doctor’s strike in the country that left many patients across many hospitals in the country unattended.

For more inquiries contact the Public Relations Office, Njala University/+23276336213/+23276245292/Email:akoroma1@njala.edu.sl /rssesay@njala.edu.sl