Dr Ibrahim Bangura Calls For Strong Digital Culture At FBC

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, Senior Lecturer at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone, on Tuesday, 28th July 2026 delivered the keynote address at the Academic Staff Association (ASA-FBC) Staff Training Workshop, held under the theme: “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Digital Research Tools and Learning Management Systems for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Academic Administration.”
Addressing lecturers, administrators and members of the College Management, Prof. Dr. Bangura challenged academics to move beyond simply reacting to technological change and instead take the lead in shaping the future of higher education through the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital innovations.
He noted that while AI is transforming teaching, research and academic administration across the world, it should be viewed as a tool that enhances, not replaces scholarship. According to him, the enduring role of the university lecturer lies in cultivating critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, ethical reasoning and mentorship, qualities that technology cannot replicate.
Prof. Dr. Bangura also underscored the importance of academic integrity in the age of AI, urging lecturers to verify AI-generated content, discourage plagiarism and guide students to use technology as a complement to original thinking rather than a substitute for it.
On research, he encouraged academics to harness modern digital research tools to improve the quality of data collection, analysis and international collaboration, stressing that university research must address real societal challenges, inform public policy and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Highlighting the growing relevance of Learning Management Systems (LMS), he described digital learning platforms as essential to expanding access to education, improving student engagement and ensuring the continuity of learning beyond the physical classroom.
Calling for a stronger digital culture at Fourah Bay College, Prof. Dr. Bangura urged sustained investment in technology, continuous professional development and visionary leadership to position the College as a research-driven, digitally empowered and globally competitive institution.
He concluded with a call for lecturers to embrace technology without compromising academic standards, remain lifelong learners and harness innovation to deliver quality education to every student.
Prof. Dr. Bangura commended the Academic Staff Association of Fourah Bay College for organising what he described as a timely and forward-looking initiative, expressing confidence that the workshop would strengthen the capacity of lecturers and administrators to meet the demands of 21st-century higher education.
“The university of the future will not be defined by the height of its buildings or the size of its libraries, but by the quality of its ideas, the adaptability of its people, and the relevance of its knowledge to society,” Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Bangura remarked.