nIn a significant boost to academic operations, the Kono University of Science and Technology (KUST) has officially received a forty-seater bus, a generous donation from His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone. The presentation ceremony was held on October 25, 2025, in Koidu City, coinciding with the inauguration of the new Maternal Health Center of Excellence, marking a day of dual development milestones for the district.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal of the university, speaking at the event, conveyed the institution’s profound gratitude, describing the vehicle as a timely intervention that addresses a critical need. He explained that since the university opened its doors to students in the 2023 academic year, the lack of reliable transportation has been a persistent and considerable obstacle. This challenge has hampered administrative efficiency, limited student mobility for academic and research activities, and constrained the university’s overall operational capacity. The new bus is therefore expected to revolutionize daily life at KUST, providing a dependable means of transport that will enhance access to educational resources, support extracurricular activities, and streamline the logistical framework of the young institution.
Beyond this specific donation, the Vice Chancellor also took the opportunity to acknowledge the sustained and ongoing support from President Bio’s administration, which has been instrumental since the university’s foundation. This continued partnership, he noted, has been effectively facilitated through the dedicated efforts of key government figures. These include the Honorable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurrie, and the entire staff of the Ministry, all of whom have played pivotal roles in nurturing the university’s early growth.
The establishment of Kono University of Science and Technology is widely seen as a strategic move to rectify historical educational imbalances in the region. As the newest public university in rural Sierra Leone, KUST stands in the heart of the diamond-rich Kono District, symbolizing a commitment to converting natural resource wealth into intellectual capital. Its core mandate is to deliver advanced tertiary education in science and technology fields, thereby cultivating a skilled workforce that is directly aligned with the human capital development goals of President Bio’s national agenda.
Looking to the future, the Vice Chancellor issued a compelling call to action, urging other government agencies, international development partners, philanthropic donors, and private sector entities to follow the government’s lead. He emphasized that the continued development and long-term success of the university depend on such collaborative efforts and broad-based support. He invited these stakeholders to partner with KUST in various capacities, asserting that a collective investment in the university is ultimately an investment in the nation’s sustainable development and technological future.
