By Thaimu T Kamara

Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has called for the timely completion of rehabilitation works at Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), stressing the need to improve learning conditions and expand facilities for students at the institution’s Goderich and Congo Cross campuses.

The Vice President made the call during an inspection of the rehabilitation project supported by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he assessed progress, engaged project officials and discussed challenges affecting the timely delivery of the works.

The project forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen infrastructure in higher and technical education institutions as increasing numbers of students pursue further education and professional training.

During his visit to the Congo Cross campuses, Dr Jalloh observed that students had already started using some of the rehabilitated classrooms, marking progress towards improving the teaching and learning environment.

The use of the completed facilities is expected to provide students and lecturers with improved spaces for academic activities while the remaining rehabilitation works continue.

At the Goderich campuses, the Vice President expressed satisfaction with the quality of work completed so far, particularly the progress made on the construction of new hostels for male and female students.

He noted that improving accommodation facilities was an important part of creating a more supportive learning environment, particularly for students who require residential accommodation to pursue their studies.

However, he emphasised the need for all parties involved in the project to work together to address outstanding challenges and ensure that the remaining activities are completed within the agreed timelines.

“My role is to support the contractors, project managers and consultants so that they can deliver these projects,” Dr Jalloh said.

He stressed that effective collaboration among contractors, consultants, project managers and relevant government institutions would be essential to resolving difficulties and ensuring successful project delivery.

The Vice President’s inspection follows a directive from President Dr Julius Maada Bio for him to monitor government-supported projects across the country and help ensure that they are completed as planned.

The directive is intended to strengthen oversight, identify implementation challenges and encourage those responsible for delivering public projects to meet their commitments.

Dr Jalloh’s visit to MMTU provided an opportunity to assess the progress of the rehabilitation works directly and engage those involved in the project’s implementation.

The investment is significant for technical and higher education in Sierra Leone, where improved infrastructure is necessary to accommodate students, support practical learning and strengthen the quality of education.

Rehabilitated classrooms and improved student accommodation are expected to contribute to a better academic environment, while the completion of the remaining works would allow the university to make fuller use of the facilities provided under the project.

Civil society activist Alphonso Manley welcomed the progress made on the BADEA-supported rehabilitation project, particularly the classrooms that students have already started using.

He described the progress as encouraging but emphasised the importance of maintaining close supervision to ensure that the outstanding works are completed on time.

“So far, so good. We appreciate the progress, though more work remains to be done,” Manley said.

He called on the government to ensure adequate funding and regular monitoring throughout the implementation process, noting that these measures would help contractors overcome challenges and meet their agreed deadlines.

Manley also stressed the importance of sustained oversight to ensure that the progress achieved so far translates into the full completion and delivery of the facilities.

His remarks highlighted the need for continued accountability and coordination among the government, contractors and project management teams to ensure that public investments deliver the intended benefits.

Meanwhile, project managers at both the Goderich and Congo Cross campuses assured the Vice President of their commitment to completing the remaining works according to schedule.

Their assurances come as the government continues to monitor infrastructure projects aimed at improving public service delivery and strengthening educational institutions across the country.

Dr. Jalloh also indicated that he would revisit both campuses soon to assess progress and ensure that outstanding works are completed and the facilities handed over for use.

The planned follow-up visit is expected to provide another opportunity to review implementation, identify any remaining obstacles and encourage the project teams to maintain momentum.

The rehabilitation of Milton Margai Technical University’s facilities is part of wider efforts to improve access to quality technical and higher education in Sierra Leone.

As the project progresses, attention will remain on the completion of outstanding works, the provision of improved learning and accommodation facilities, and the effective use of public investments to meet the needs of students.

The Vice President’s call reinforces the government’s expectation that contractors and project managers deliver on their commitments, ensuring that students and the university community benefit from the improved infrastructure without unnecessary delays.