The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Professor Joseph Aruna Lawrence Kamara, who passed away on 10 December 2025 at the age of 71, to express sympathy and honour his contribution to academia and national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, said that their presence underscored the high value the Ministry places on Professor Kamara’s service. She noted that the late professor dedicated his life to academia and public service, describing the University of Sierra Leone as a family to which he gave his best years. She recalled his leadership roles during difficult periods in the university and said he consistently answered the call to serve, including later accepting responsibility at the Eastern Technical University with great commitment.
Dr. Wurie said Professor Kamara was selfless, deeply committed to mentoring others, and instrumental in building the capacity of many professionals. She added that, on a personal level, she regarded him as a mentor whose leadership and support shaped her own academic and professional journey. While acknowledging the pain of his passing, she said the Ministry accepts it as God’s will and expressed confidence that he had fulfilled his purpose in life.
She assured the family that the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education will stand with them in their time of mourning, both in prayer and in practical support. As a gesture of solidarity, she, on behalf of the ministry, presented a token to assist the family with funeral arrangements. She emphasized that Professor Kamara’s legacy would endure through the institutions he strengthened and the people he mentored, urging all beneficiaries of his guidance to preserve and build on that legacy.
In their response, the bereaved family said education was at the heart of Professor Kamara’s life and values, noting that he consistently encouraged his relatives to pursue higher learning and to serve the nation with integrity. The family expressed deep gratitude to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education for the support and opportunities that shaped his academic journey, including the scholarship that enabled him to study abroad and his return home to contribute to Sierra Leone’s development.
They thanked the ministry for the condolence visit, prayers, and solidarity shown during their time of loss, describing the gesture as deeply comforting. The family also outlined plans for memorial and funeral activities in his honour and extended appreciation to all institutions and individuals who continue to recognise and uphold his legacy of service to education.
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