PHOTO: Rev. Dr. Emmanuel F. Johnson and Prof. Dr. James Legbeli Sumo Kollie
By George Stewart in Freetown
The Bishop’s Deputy of the AME Zion Church in Liberia and another Liberian resident in Sierra Leone for near 20 years on Wednesday, April 6, earned Doctor of Philosophy Degrees (PhDs) in Theology and Finance respectively from the oldest university in Sub-Saharan Africa, Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel F. Johnson and Prof. Dr. James Legbeli Sumo Kollie were among six graduates who earned post-graduate degrees of PhD in different disciplines. One of the six, a Sierra Leonean militant, received Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science with specialization in Terrorism Option.
While Dr. Sumo Kollie, a native of Bong County, is heavily barricaded with teaching obligations at University of Sierra Leone, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Johnson serves Liberia as the Dean of the Bishop Warren M. brown Divinity College, at AME Zion University, Bishop’s Deputy in Liberia for the Western West Africa District and Presiding Elder of the Brewerville District of the AME Zion Church in Liberia and Member of Eminent Persons Chapter-Full Gospel Businessmen International, Sierra Leone.
While in Sierra Leone for study tour, Dr. Johnson enjoyed the confidence of the church community under the banner of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone and the Full Gospel Ministers of Sierra Leone. These groups and other friends held ceremonies including honoring programs for Rev. Dr. Johnson as he departed their country.
Fourah Bay College (FBC), founded in 1827, is the first western style university built in Sub-Sahara African. Later, it was incorporated as individual college under the University of Sierra Leone, established in 2005 as public institution, offering hundreds of disciplines at different academic levels.
Fourah Bay College lies 300 meters above sea level on Mount Aureol in Freetown. Some Liberian Universities including the University of Liberia and African Methodist University currently enjoy partnership with FBC, according to the Vice Chancellor & Principal of the University of Sierra Leone, Bridgadier-General, Professor Dr. foday Sahr. The detail of partnership not mentioned, but it appears benefits of such partnership may border on staff capacity development and introduction of post-graduate degrees at some of Liberia’s best universities like the University of Liberia.