By: James Kamara-Manneh
In a landmark event marking Sierra Leone’s stride towards digital transformation, President Julius Maada Bio graced the inauguration of the Sierra Leone Innovates Tech Summit 2024 at the esteemed Bintumani Complex in Freetown yesterday. In his address, President Bio hailed the summit as a pivotal platform driving the nation’s technological evolution, framing it as an essential component of the “Big Five Game changer initiatives.”
President Bio’s presence underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to harnessing technology for socioeconomic advancement. He remarked, “I am elated to be part of and lead today’s 2024 Sierra Leone Innovates Tech Summit. It is a critical hub of the Big Five Game changer initiatives.” The President’s sentiment resonated with the summit’s overarching theme of leveraging technology to propel national development.
Highlighting the government’s proactive stance towards technological integration, President Bio emphasized the significant strides made over the past six years to align policies conducive to technological innovation and digital inclusion. He articulated, “These transformative initiatives in the technology and digitalization space spring from our efforts over the last six years to align our policies that bolster technology and promote digital inclusion.”
The President delineated a comprehensive vision encompassing various sectors, including governance, education, climate mitigation, agriculture, healthcare, and beyond, asserting that technology must serve as a catalyst for progress in each domain. “As a government, we believe that we must harness and leverage technology to fast track and boost our socio-economic development and also enhance governance, education, climate mitigation, agriculture and food production, healthcare, and more,” he proclaimed.
Moreover, President Bio underscored the imperative of proactive engagement with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, advocating for a shift from passive consumption to active participation in technological innovation. He affirmed, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here with us, and we must actively use, create, and foster technology solutions rather be mere recipients of technology.”
In a monumental announcement emblematic of Sierra Leone’s technological leap forward, President Bio unveiled the commencement of Starlink internet connectivity in the nation. This initiative represents a significant stride towards broadening digital access and fostering connectivity across the country.
The summit witnessed the unveiling of several groundbreaking initiatives aimed at catalyzing technological advancement and fostering a culture of innovation. President Bio rallied the nation to embrace digitalization wholeheartedly, emphasizing the collective endeavor to innovate solutions that propel Sierra Leone towards a brighter future. “Together, let us eagerly and wholly embrace digitalization as we innovate solutions to make our country a better place,” he urged.
The Sierra Leone Innovates Tech Summit 2024 stands as a testament to the nation’s unwavering commitment to leveraging technology as a catalyst for progress, marking a transformative juncture in Sierra Leone’s journey towards digital empowerment and socioeconomic advancement.
