My visit to Koinadugu College in Falaba District was more than a campus tour. It felt like a quiet lesson on what education in Sierra Leone can become when vision, culture, and sustainability meet.
The visit formed part of this year’s 8th Project 1808 National Science and Leadership Festival (#SciLeadFest2026), held in Kabala from January 14 to 16, 2026. The festival, which focused on the theme “STEEAMM and Leadership: Breaking Barriers and Building on the African Cultural Foundation,” brought together students, educators, innovators, and community leaders to talk about science, leadership, and Africa’s future. But for me, Koinadugu College turned those conversations into something practical and visible.
We were led around the main campus by the founder, Prof. Alhaji U. Njai, whose calm confidence reflected the philosophy behind the institution. As we walked, he spoke less about buildings and more about values. According to him, Koinadugu College is built on shaping students with a clear mindset.
First, entrepreneurial. Students are encouraged to introduce new ideas, devices, and methods to solve problems and create opportunities. The aim is not just to pass exams, but to think and act differently.
Second, sustainable. Prof. Njai explained that the college believes in meeting today’s needs without destroying the future of the next generation. This belief is not only taught in classrooms; it is lived on campus.
Third, leadership. The college trains students to lead ethically, with the goal of inspiring others and contributing positively to society.
Fourth, globally minded. Students are encouraged to look beyond themselves and beyond Sierra Leone, to understand the world from wider perspectives while still staying grounded.
Finally, African. This stood out the most. Prof. Njai stressed that the college honours, harvests, and learns from local traditions, community knowledge, and African culture. Development, he said, should not mean abandoning who we are.
The physical environment of the college supports these values. The campus is built with clay bricks, reducing environmental harm. Solar energy powers the school 24 hours a day. More than 1,000 species of trees grow on the land, with cashew trees spread across the campus. Everything about the place quietly points to green living and respect for nature.
In a country where many schools struggle with infrastructure, power supply, and long-term vision, Koinadugu College offers a different story. It shows that education does not have to fight culture or the environment to succeed. Instead, it can grow from them.
Leaving the campus, I felt that Koinadugu College is not just preparing students for jobs, but for responsibility. If more institutions embraced this kind of thinking, Sierra Leone’s future would look much greener, more confident, and more African in its solutions.
Sometimes, the future does not arrive loudly. Sometimes, it is already growing quietly in places like Falaba.
From my visit to Koinadugu College, one thought stayed with me: Sierra Leone does not only need rich leaders. We need visionary leaders who understand our country, our culture, and our values.
Walking through the campus and listening to Prof. Alhaji U Njai, it became clear that leadership is not about wealth or position. Prof. Njai spent most of his education and professional life in the United States, where he worked and headed multinational companies. Yet, many years ago, he made the choice to return home. Not for politics or praise, but to solve problems in his hometown using the resources already available.
His belief is simple but powerful: Africa does not need foreign aid to develop. What Africa needs are leaders who understand local problems and are willing to use local knowledge, local materials, and local solutions. This thinking is reflected in Koinadugu College itself, from its green buildings to its focus on African values and sustainability.
Too often, leadership in our countries is measured by access to donors and foreign support. But real development cannot depend on handouts for survival. We need leaders who can stand confidently, plan long-term, and build systems that work even without external help.
People like Prof. Alhaji U Njai remind me that another kind of leadership is possible. Leadership that is rooted in service, culture, and responsibility. Seeing his work in Falaba gave me hope that Sierra Leone’s future does not have to be shaped from outside, but can be built from within, by people who truly understand the land and the people they serve.
