The Njala University’s Premier School, the School of Agriculture and Food Science has on Wednesday 29th July,2020 got a new Acting Dean to steer the affairs of the School in the person of Dr. Mohamed Alieu Bah.
Dr. Bah replaces Dr. Abdul Rahman Sesay who served as Dean of the school for the last four years.
The outgoing has been appointed to serve as the new Dean for the Postgraduate School of the University replacing Professor Bashiru Koroma, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Njala Campus.
At a brief handing over ceremony held at the School on Wednesday 29th July, 2020 the outgoing praised his colleague Heads of Departments and other senior members of staff for supporting him throughout his tenure as Dean of the School.
He praised his successor, Dr Bah whom he noted is not a stranger to the challenges and structures of the School.
Dr. Sesay told his staff that even though he would be leaving as Dean, he is still a member of the School lecturing at the Department of Animal Science and also undertaking a number of research activities.
He praised the Acting VC and P for approving the rehabilitation of the School and the provision of sewing machines upon his visit to the school sometimes ago. The VC and P, Dr Sesay noted is the first sitting VC and P to visit the School of Agriculture in the last ten years.
He handed over a comprehensive note
to his successor entailing the brief description of the duties of a dean; status of the departments and staff complement; regular /reoccurring meetings and reports, status of recent and current projects, ongoing activities and host of other issues.
Dr Mohamed Alieu Bah while responding thanked the various Heads of Departments and other senior members of staff for believing in his vision to lead the School and established the fact that the school of Agriculture and Food Sciences is an envy of Njala University and that it is incumbent on all staff of the school to support President Bio’s Food Security vision.
The incoming also thanked the Administration especially the Vice Chancellor and Principal, Malam .O. and the University Registrar for reposing confidence in him to lead such a great School.
He entreated his colleagues of the great task that lies ahead of them and encouraged all to brace up and do the needful to take the School to higher heights.
The incoming also assured the outgoing that he will rely on his huge experience over the years to steer the affairs of the School and further thanked him for his contribution to the progress of the school during his tenure as Dean.
Dr. Patrick Sawyerr a senior lecturer and Head of the Soil Science Department noted that he was impressed that the School has never got such an impressive handing over ceremony in its history. He thanked the outgoing for his leadership and encouraged the incoming to emulate his example.
Dr. Adolphous Johnson, Head of Department Agric Extension and Rural Sociology disclosed that he has confidence in the leadership of Dr. Bah and described him as a man who has the tendency to stake his neck for what is right.
The Head of Institute of Food Technology, Nutrition and Consumer Studies, Dr. Tamba Stevens Sonda who also doubles as the Coordinator for the Postgraduate School noted that he was pleased that Dr. Sesay is going to head the Postgraduate School. He encouraged him to help lift his colleagues who are yet to compete their PhD programme with a view to further enhance the staff capacity of the School.
Dr. Mohamed Alieu Bah joined the School of Agriculture in 2012 as Lecturer 1 and later rose to Senior Lecture and Head of Department Crop Science in 2015. He is a very strong member of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) and has served as President for the Association between 2018 and 2019, Njala Campus Chair between 2016 and 2018 and is currently the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Association
