The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) in partnership with Huawei Sierra Leone and with support from Orange Sierra Leone and UNICEF has successfully trained over 3,500 Senior Secondary School (SSS) students in the maiden Sierra Leone ICT Talent Development Program.
The initiative, which seeks to bridge the growing ICT skills gap through knowledge transfer, began earlier this year with a graduate recruitment training. The training was aimed at equipping 50 university graduates with the requisite skills in Cyber Security and Digital Marketing and enable them pass on the knowledge acquired to students at the secondary level.
Speaking on the initiative, Hon. Salima Monorma Bah, the Minister of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI) commended Huawei and Orange Foundation for their efforts. According to her the training aligns closely with the President Big Five Game Changers, particularly pillar two and three which focuses on human capital development and youth employment.
“By equipping graduates with digital skills, we are addressing two critical pillars of His Excellency, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio’s vision to create 500,000 job opportunities for the youth – while investing in human capital development.”
Speaking on the impact of the program, Mr. Sekou Amadou Bah, the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, also highlighted the importance of digital literacy in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape.
He said “technology plays a crucial role in today’s world, and it is essential that students are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital age. By offering these free trainings, we aim to bridge the digital divide and empower students with skills they need to succeed”.
Mr. Dash Qiu, General Manager of Huawei Sierra Leone, highlighted that these trainings come as part of Huawei’s commitment in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) while ensuring that no one is left behind in the digitalization process.
He further emphasized that Huawei’s collaboration with MoCTI and industry partners exemplifies the company’s belief in the transformative power of technology to drive economic growth and social progress.
“We are proud to contribute to Sierra Leone’s digital transformation and look forward to seeing these young talents become the driving force of innovation in their communities.” He added.
The pilot phase of the Sierra Leone Talent Development project, supported also by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), concluded on July 15, 2024.
So far 3,514 students from 61 schools across 8 districts namely; Western Urban, Western Rural, Bo, Pujehun, Kono, Kenema, Moyamba, and Bonthe have benefitted from the training this year.