By Komba Fillie
Freetown witnessed a significant addition to its educational landscape with the official opening of the College of Human Rights Education & Professional Studies (CHREPS) on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The college is located at Black Hall Road, PWD, opposite Amta Medical College in the east of the city. The institution aims to provide high-quality training for future human rights professionals, activists, and advocates.
During the opening ceremony, the college’s proprietor, Victor Lansana Kororma Esq. outlined the vision behind its establishment. He explained that CHREPS is a private academic institution, registered in Sierra Leone in 2025, created to foster human rights education, good governance, democracy, and global health security for sustainable human capital development in the country.
He said the college’s faculty comprises highly trained scholars from reputable universities in Sierra Leone, the West Africa sub-region, and beyond. These instructors bring proven expertise in areas including Human Rights Advocacy, Governance and Leadership, Democracy, Human Resource Management, Policy and Legal Research, International Relations, Health Administration, Statistical Methods, Monitoring and Evaluation, Cyber Security and Law, Climate Change Adaptation, Information Communication Technology, and Peace and Conflict Mediation.
Mr. Kororma emphasized the foundational importance of human rights awareness, noting that a person’s ability to enjoy their rights depends on societal knowledge and respect for those rights. He distinguished between civil and political rights such as the right to vote, freedom of speech, and freedom from torture and economic, social, and cultural rights, like the right to education. While governments must refrain from violating civil and political rights, they are also obliged to take active steps to fulfill economic and social rights, including providing quality education and health services.
He further highlighted that human rights entail responsibilities both for individuals to exercise their rights without infringing on others, and for governments to establish laws and services that protect and uphold these rights. In addition to individual rights, collective rights were noted as essential for historically marginalized groups.
He noted that the college is equipped with office spaces, a computer centre, and online delivery capabilities to support its initial operations. The institution already owns a two-story building complex furnished with essential devices, and additional facilities will be procured to ensure smooth functioning for staff and students. Once accredited by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and the National Council for Technical, Vocational and Academic Awards (NCTVA), CHREPS will relocate to a permanent three-acre campus at Fumeh in the Western Rural District, which will host a full departmental complex.
CHREPS will be governed by a College Board of Trustees, with a College Administration handling day-to-day operations in line with national educational policies. Key administrative roles include the Principal and Proprietor, Registrar, Administrative Secretaries, Academic Deans, Heads of Departments, and Academic Staff. The Board of Trustees will serve as the highest governing body, responsible for major institutional decisions. Other college staff also shared insights on administrative operations and the positive impact the institution is expected to have on students, reinforcing CHREPS’ commitment to advancing human rights education and professional excellence in Sierra Leone.
