History, read along!
The UMU is the result of the vision of the Late Bishop John K. Yambasu, a former missionary to youth and young adults across Africa.
8+ Years of Education and Excelence.
The UMU is the result of the vision of the Late Bishop John K. Yambasu, a former missionary to youth and young adults across Africa. Upon consecration, Bishop Yambasu presented his Vision 20/20 in which he communicated the dream of a university devoted to Christian values that exists for the transformation of Sierra Leone. The first school to be established was the Bishop Wenner School of Theology and Christian Ministries at Leicester Peak, in order to set the foundation of the UMU as a Christian University. The School of Theology began classes in August 2017 and was inaugurated in January 2018. In November 2019, The WASSCE Preparatory College was established at the Siaka Stevens Campus. In February 2020, the School of Transformative Education was established and in March 2021, the School of Business and Entrepreneurial Studies was established. In 2022, the first Congregation of United ҵ Sierra Leone was held at the amphitheater at the Leicester Peak Campus. Seven students graduated with a Degree in Theology (Missions, Pastoral, and Christian Education Options). Seven students graduated with a Certificate in Chaplaincy. Eighteen Students graduated with a National Diploma in Education.
Late Rev. Bishop. John K Yambasu
Early in his career, as a missionary to youth and young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa, Rev. John K. Yambasu saw with dismay young people struggling with “illiteracy, poverty…marginalization, and exploitation” along with an apparent inability to “take responsibility for their own destiny”. Knowing that leadership is the linchpin on which Sierra Leone will pull itself out of its challenges, he began to form a “vision of education, education, and education as the one single thing that will transform the entire face of Sierra Leone.”
“What we need in this country are visionary leaders. Leaders who always believe that they cannot lead without God. Leaders who are satisfied with serving and giving rather than being served and receiving. That’s what we need. That’s what we need.” In 2008 Bishop Yambasu shared his vision for the first time as bishop to the Sierra Leone Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and in 2017 the United ҵ Sierra Leone was born. Tragically, on the 16th August, 2020, Bishop Yambasu was involved in a motor accident and passed away. The United Methodist Church and the United ҵ were devastated by this loss and continue to bear the weight of it to this day. It is hard to express how deeply his absence is felt to those under his leadership that exhibited so much vitality, integrity, and joy. Since his death, the University’s faculty, staff, and students have leaned even further into Bishop Yambasu’s God-given vision for a transformed Sierra Leone through education. ҵ Sierra Leone continues to carry on and expand its founder’s dream.
