June 29, 2020

Profile of

Emeritus Professor Ing. Victor Esehwanu Heathcote Strasser-King, CRSL

BSc (Durham), PhD (Manchester), FGS (London), CGeol (London), MInst.MM (London), CEng (London), PEng, FRC, FSLIE, FSLIG, Dip. Remote Sensing (Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan, Baku, USSR), Dip in Management (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India).

Prof. Victor Strasser-King is a Sierra Leonean academic born 23 May 1942 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He has been married for over 46 years now to Gladys Ethel Omotunde Strasser-King (nee Taylor), with five children.

Victor Strasser-King (Prof.) attended the Hope Day School (Pre-School), Cathedral Infant and Boys School, and the CMS Grammar School in Freetown. Graduated with BSc in Geology (Durham) from Fourah Bay College (then University of Durham). After his first degree, he started his professional career as an Asst. Geologist and later Mineralogist in the Sierra Leone Government Geological Survey. He undertook geological mapping, mineral exploration and later headed the mineralogy laboratory. In his thirst for learning, he proceeded to the University of Manchester (UK), two years after obtaining his first degree, where he obtained his PhD degree. He also obtained several professional qualifications in the UK including Charters in Geology and Engineering. (Undertook a programme in Engineering Geology at the University, outside his PhD research). Served as Teaching Assistant in the University of Manchester during his PhD programme. Undertook Management Training in France; University of Chester in the UK; and the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India. Also, he undertook training in Remote Sensing Applications at the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan in Baku, USSR; the USGS Geological Surveys in Virginia USA; and the EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.

Following a PhD from the University of Manchester, he served the University of Sierra Leone (Fourah Bay College) for over 30 years as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Professor of Geology, Head of Department, Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and Principal.  He was Hall Warden (Bai Bureh Hall) Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone and Senior Treasurer Students Union, for over 15 years in addition to his academic positions.

Was Principal of Fourah Bay College and Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Sierra Leone for over 10 years. At the end of his term as Principal, he was appointed Pro-Chancellor, University of Sierra Leone, and served for over three years. Professor Strasser-King was Senior Fulbright Scholar at Pennsylvania State University USA and, over the years, served as Visiting Professor to many universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, USA and the African sub-region.  He was External Examiner to the University of Ghana (Legon) for three years. Had short attachments at the United States Geological Surveys (USGS) in Virginia and at the EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on a programme in ‘Remote Sensing Applications’. For six years was a Member of the Board of the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) of UNESCO, Paris, France. Was for many years, a member of the UNESCO regional scientific team on the ‘Geology for Economic Development’ Programme, which conducted geo-traverses across West Africa.

He also served as Consulting Geologist to many national and international exploration, mining and civil engineering companies, undertaking projects in several parts of Sierra Leone and other countries. He served as Director in many Corporate Boards, including parastatals, such as Chairmanship of the former National Diamond Mining Company (NDMC), Sierra Leone Ports Authority and National Power Authority. Other directorship positions he held include, Peninsula Mining Co., Cresmet Brokers and Business Consultants, UT Oil Ltd, icren Services Ltd. Served as Commissioner in many State Commissions in Sierra Leone, including the Law Reform Commission and the National Commission for Privatization.  Also served in various committees in the Anti- Corruption Commission. Served as a member of the six-man National Policy Advisory Council (NPAC) in the Office of the President of Sierra Leone (during the Presidency of Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah), which reviewed all cabinet papers and proffered advice to the President to enable him take more informed decisions at cabinet. Served in the Presidential Committee for the restructuring of the Petroleum Unit and the committee that reviewed the Mines and Minerals Policy and Act. He Formulated the Petroleum Policy for Sierra Leone. The policy underpinned the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act of 2010. Participated in numerous national and international conferences, seminars, workshops etc, covering a wide range of themes.

The renowned Sierra Leonean academic has circled the globe many times over and has authored several research publications in peer review journals and books.  Also authored several technical reports, conference and seminar papers. His travel has taken him to institutions and organizations in most parts of the planet. In addition to his contributions towards education in Sierra Leone, Professor Strasser-King facilitated the acquisition of a land and constructed a modern school building, with the support of the First Church of Christ Congregational, Farmington, Connecticut, USA.

Other Positions Held include: Former member of the Estate and Development Board of the Anglican Diocese of Freetown and the North; member of the Parochial Committee of the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity, Kissy Road, Freetown; former Secretary of the Sierra Leone Association of Professional Organisations (SLAPO); former Executive Member of the English-Speaking Union; member of the Local Policing Partnership Board (LPPB), Goderich Division, Freetown; chairman of the Board of Trustees and Member of the Board of Governors of Hope Day School, Freetown. In 2008 was appointed Policy Adviser to the President of Sierra Leone (President Ernest Bai Koroma), in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU), Office of the President. Responsibilities included Policy Formulation, Implementation support and Coordination of programmes, projects and activities of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; Infrastructure, Energy and Oil Exploration issues. In 2010 elevated to the position of Director, the first in the restructured Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU), in the Office of the President of Sierra Leone. In June 2013 was appointed to the newly created position of Senior Director in the Office of the Chief of Staff (Office of the President), in addition to his position as Director of the Strategy and Policy Unit (See Achievements in the following page). He retired from all Public Service positions in May 2018. He is currently involved with mentoring of young professionals in the Sierra Leone Institution of Geoscientists (SLIG), an organization which he was one of the founding members and active sponsor.

Achievements as Presidential Adviser, Director of Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU) and Senior Director, Office of the Chief of Staff (OCoS) include the following:Charged by H.E. the President, to supervise the completion and commissioning of the Bumbuna Hydro-electric Project in 2008; which was successfully accomplished.

  •  Contributed to the timely delivery of most Agenda for Prosperity (previously Agenda for Change) projects e.g. Energy, Water, Infrastructure, through implementation support, coordination, monitoring and regular stocktakes of MDA’s activities.
  •  Contributed to the development of Performance Contracts for Ministers and Heads of MDAs, Tertiary Institutions, Local Councils etc. as well as the appraisal of their performances.
  •  Conducted workshops, seminars and gave presentations to Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Tertiary Institutions, Local Councils etc. on ‘Result Based Management’, Performance Contracting and related subjects.
  •  Formulated several policies, including the Petroleum Policy for Sierra Leone (as member of the Presidential Task Force for the Restructuring of the Petroleum Resources Unit).
  •  Contributed to the development of the Feeder Roads Policy, Employment Policy, etc.
  •  Reviewed several bills prior to parliamentary enactment
  •  Reviewed Cabinet Papers for H.E. the President
  •  Preparation of several Presidential Briefs on policy, strategy and diverse issues.
  •  Led negotiations in London with Minister of Health for the formation of the National Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit
  •  Undertook several overseas assignments and participated in programmes on Performance Management, Environment, Energy, Social Action etc. in Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, India, Thailand, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Israel and USA.
  •  Successfully led the presentation on Sierra Leone’s achievements to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Senators, Congress men and Congresswomen and other bodies in Washington DC, USA in 2012, resulting in Sierra Leone’s nomination for MCC Compact Funding and later the award of Threshold Funding.
  •  As Senior Director in the Office of the Chief of Staff, had oversight responsibilities for the Strategy and Policy Unit (I was also Director of the Unit), the Performance Management and Service Delivery Directorate, the Public Private Partnership Unit, the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Unit and the Millennium Challenge Corporation Unit (MCCU).
  •  Performed the duties of Chief of Staff to the President at State House from June to July, 2014.
  •  Provided oversight of the Ministry of Energy from February to July 2014.
  •  Featured in two articles in the prestigious Princeton University (USA) publication ‘Innovations for Successful Societies’ on:
  •  Turning on the lights in Freetown, Sierra Leone: Completing the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Plant, 2008 – 2009 (Published in 2011)
  •  Delivering on a Presidential Agenda: Sierra Leone’s Strategy and Policy Unit, 2010-2011 (Published in 2012).
  •  Participated and gave Opening Statement at the Launch of the 4th Petroleum Licensing Round organized by the Sierra Leone Petroleum Directorate in partnership with ERCL/Geotech, at the Geological Society of London Premises (Piccadilly London) on 25th January 2018.

Awards and Commendations

Strasser-King (Prof) have received several awards and commendations, and is the subject of biographical reference in ‘Who is Who in the World’ for outstanding achievements in the field of geology and geology education. In 2004 the Standing Committee of the University of Sierra Leone and the then President of Sierra Leone (President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah) named a newly constructed building on Fourah Bay College campus, ‘Professor Victor Strasser-King Building’ in recognition of the significant contribution he made to the infrastructural and other developments at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He was appointed Emeritus Professor on 4th April, 2013 for the rest of his life, by the Senate and Court of the University of Sierra Leone’….in appreciation of distinguished service to the University of Sierra Leone and the Community, particularly the Department of Geology, Fourah Bay College. On 27th April 2013, His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone conferred upon him, the premier award of Commander of the Order of the Republic of Sierra Leone (CRSL) ‘…….in recognition of long and distinguished service to the nation, particularly in the fields of Geology, University Education and Policy Formulation’. Honoured by the University of Durham at a ’50thAnniversary of your Graduation’ congregation ceremony on 11th January 2018 at Durham Cathedral UK, at which his life and career were celebrated.

Victor E.H. Strasser-King (Prof)