Sierra Leone High Commissioner Delivers Lecture on Diplomatic Relations with Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria – His Excellency Dr. Julius F. Sandy, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, delivered a public lecture to staff and students of the International Relations Department, Madonna University, Anambra State, on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.
The event, hosted at the Sierra Leone High Commission Chancery in Abuja, focused on diplomacy and relations between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
In his address, High Commissioner Sandy highlighted the longstanding relations between the two nations, dating back to the establishment of Fourah Bay College in 1827. He noted that the first registered student was a Nigerian, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who wrote to the administration, marking the first recorded institution of Sierra Leone into Nigeria.
These relations, he noted, have become a foundation for multifaceted and rewarding cooperation in areas such as trade, agriculture, mining, energy, education, military collaboration, and cultural exchanges.
“Nigeria remains a key and trusted partner to Sierra Leone,” Dr. Sandy emphasized. He explained that the relationship between Sierra Leone and Nigeria was also familial, strong, and productive.
On the informal sector, Dr. Sandy observed that there are more Nigerian businessmen on the streets of Freetown than Sierra Leoneans.
High Commissioner Sandy called for enhanced efforts to build on the already brotherly relationship between Sierra Leone and Nigeria. He encouraged Madonna University to revitalize its student exchange programs, promoting cultural exchange and deeper understanding between students of both countries.
In conclusion, Dr. Sandy admonished that both Sierra Leone and Nigeria must bear in mind that there are prospects ahead, greater than those already explored. He emphasized the need to work together to explore and optimally use the tapped and untapped prospects for the mutual benefits of both countries and for the benefit of humanity.
Speaking on behalf of Madonna University, Professor Jonah Onuoha remarked that the Department of International Relations organizes field visits to provide students with firsthand exposure to the work of international institutions, such as embassies.
This visit, he said, is a valuable opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of Sierra Leone–Nigeria diplomatic and economic cooperation. He concluded that the lecture was insightful and that he had learned more about Sierra Leone and Nigeria relations than he ever imagined.
Dr. Odigbo Jude, Head of the Department of International Relations, stressed that the trip was not merely an excursion but a critical academic requirement designed to equip students with practical insights before graduation. He noted that it was invaluable and that both students and faculty benefited from Dr. Sandy’s lecture.