FBC Postgraduate Student Proposes Campus Ambassadors for Constitutional Sensitisation

A postgraduate student at Fourah Bay College (FBC) has proposed the establishment of a campus ambassador framework to improve awareness and understanding of Sierra Leone’s proposed constitutional amendments among university students and the wider public.

Francis Ngoba, who is pursuing a Master of Science in Marine Biology at FBC, made the proposal during an exclusive interview with SKB, where he discussed the ongoing debate over amendments to the 1991 Constitution.

Ngoba said he closely follows parliamentary proceedings through radio broadcasts, social media and legislative updates, but noted that many university students and members of the public may not have the time or resources to follow complex constitutional discussions.

Under his proposed campus ambassador framework, student representatives would serve as direct links between Parliament and tertiary institutions. The representatives could receive briefings on parliamentary proceedings and proposed constitutional changes before organising sensitisation programmes for students on their respective campuses.

Ngoba believes the approach could help bridge the information gap between lawmakers and young people, while making complex constitutional provisions easier for students to understand.

He further suggested that informed students could extend the sensitisation effort beyond university campuses by sharing simplified information with people in their communities. This, he argued, would help increase public understanding and participation in the constitutional reform process.

While discussing specific proposed amendments, Ngoba expressed support for the Proportional Representation (PR) system, saying it could offer advantages for national elections, including improved governance stability and reduced public expenditure during election cycles.

However, he raised concerns about proposed changes that would allow dual citizens to hold political office. Ngoba argued that people seeking public office should hold sole Sierra Leonean citizenship to demonstrate accountability and commitment to the country.

“If you want to hold public office, you should be on the ground in Sierra Leone and give your all to the country,” he said.

Ngoba maintained that citizens living permanently in Sierra Leone experience the country’s challenges directly and may therefore have a stronger understanding of conditions on the ground.

His proposed campus ambassador initiative comes amid continued discussions over the Constitutional Amendment Bill, with students and other members of the public increasingly engaging in debates over electoral reforms, citizenship provisions and broader governance issues.

Ngoba believes stronger civic sensitisation at tertiary institutions would give young people a greater opportunity to understand the proposed changes and participate meaningfully in national discussions on Sierra Leone’s constitutional future.