Fourah Bay College (FBC), a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone, has announced a Special General Meeting of its alumni as part of preparations for the institution’s Bicentennial Celebration.
In a special notice issued on 2 February 2026 by the Directorate of Communication and International Relations, the University said the meeting will take place on Thursday, 5 February 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the Ajayi Crowther Amphitheatre on the FBC campus.
According to the University, the meeting is intended to bring together FBC alumni from across the world to take an active role in planning and delivering activities marking 200 years since the college was founded in 1827. The notice stressed that alumni input will be critical to making the bicentennial a success, noting that their ideas, energy and participation are needed to shape the historic celebration.
The University has particularly called on former Students’ Union leaders to mobilise their colleagues and past supporters, as well as past and present Hall Governors to rally hall mates and classmates for strong participation. It also expressed expectations for the attendance and contributions of prominent FBC alumni, including Umaru Fofana, Barbar Sillah, Peter Komeh, Dr. Nathaniel King, Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, Lajaku Williams, Solomon Jamiru Esq., Abu Kommeh, Minkailu P. Koroma, Diction Bonah, Adama Sillah and Alfred M. Sesay, among others.
Founded on 18 February 1827 in Freetown, Fourah Bay College is widely recognised as the oldest Western-style university in sub-Saharan Africa. Established by the Church Missionary Society, the institution played a key role in the early spread of formal education in the region, a legacy that contributed to Sierra Leone being described as the “Athens of West Africa.”
Over the years, FBC has evolved from its early focus on training teachers and clergy to becoming a leading centre for higher education in the sub-region. It was once affiliated with Durham University in the United Kingdom and today offers programmes across disciplines including Law, Arts, Social Sciences, Engineering and the Sciences. The original Old Fourah Bay College building at Cline Town was declared a national monument in 1955.
The University has urged all alumni to attend the meeting, describing their presence as vital to honouring the college’s long history and ensuring a meaningful and memorable bicentennial celebration.