Resilience in the Furrows

A Sierra Leonean Scientist's Journey from Madrasa to National Leadership

von Yekini Alghali

174 Seiten, Taschenbuch

Kurzbeschreibung des Verlags

Born on a rare leap day in 1948 in Freetown, Yekini Alghali entered the world under circumstances as unique as the life he would lead. From the disciplined rhythms of Quranic studies at a local madrasa and the humble classrooms of Sulaimania and Prince of Wales School, through groundbreaking research on rice pests at IITA in Nigeria and host-plant resistance at ICIPE in Kenya, to steering Njala University through the ashes of civil war and founding its modern successor as Vice Chancellor, Professor Alghali's story is one of quiet determination, scientific excellence, and unwavering service to his nation.

With a PhD in Agricultural Biology (Entomology) and a career spanning continents, he identified resistant rice varieties against the stalk-eyed fly, advanced integrated pest management for cowpea and sorghum, and mentored generations of African scientists.

As Principal of Njala University College and Foundation Vice Chancellor of Njala University, he rebuilt shattered campuses, introduced innovative access programmes, launched taught master's degrees, and expanded higher education opportunities across Sierra Leone.

Later, as Chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission, he modernised regulatory frameworks, secured new infrastructure, and championed a robust new Act that finally gave teeth to quality assurance in Sierra Leone's universities.

Yet this memoir is more than a chronicle of academic and administrative achievement. It is a deeply human account of family, faith, friendship, and the hard lessons of jealousy and betrayal; of chance encounters that opened doors, of political storms weathered with dignity, and of travels across five continents that broadened a Freetown boy into a true citizen of the world.

From the hippos of Lake Victoria to the wheat fields of Stuttgart, from Hajj in Mecca to the vibrant markets of West Africa, Alghali paints a vivid layers of cultures, cuisines, and connections.

Honoured twice with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Rokel by two different presidents, and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Science, Professor Alghali reflects with characteristic honesty and grace on the long furrow he has ploughed-planting seeds of integrity, persistence, and mentorship that continue to bear fruit.

_Resilience in the Furrows_ is an inspiring account of what focused ambition, moral courage, and service to country can achieve. It is essential reading for anyone interested in African higher education, agricultural science, leadership under pressure, or the quiet power of a life lived with principle.

• Reihe: Independently published
• ISBN: 9798196414299
• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 16.09.2026
• Größe: 229 x 152 mm
• Verlag: Independently published