By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) on Tuesday held high-level discussions with Orange Sierra Leone aimed at strengthening collaboration on digital skills development and human capital growth in the country.
The meeting, held at the office of the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, at New England Ville in Freetown, brought together senior officials from both institutions to explore ways of expanding the use of digital tools across technical and higher education institutions.
Chairing the meeting, MTHE Permanent Secretary Mohamed Sheick Kargbo said the engagement came at a critical time, noting that closer collaboration with Orange Sierra Leone would enhance digital integration within higher and technical learning institutions. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to partnerships that support national development priorities.
Minister Dr. Wurie described Orange Sierra Leone as a strategic private-sector partner, particularly in advancing human capital development, which she said aligns with the government’s national development agenda. She emphasized that human capital development remains a core government priority, building on education reforms initiated during President Julius Maada Bio’s first term and sustained into his second term.
The Minister commended Orange Sierra Leone for its financial and technical contributions to education at various levels, including basic, senior secondary, and tertiary education. She highlighted the impact of Orange’s Women’s Digital Centers, noting that they have empowered women especially those without formal education with entrepreneurial and digital skills relevant to the modern economy.
Dr. Wurie also referenced Orange-supported innovation platforms for young people, adding that some of these initiatives could be institutionalized within the Ministry’s programs. She expressed optimism about the future of the partnership, citing the new Orange CEO’s background in digital transformation and innovation.
MTHE’s Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Sia Fasuluku, said the Ministry, established in 2018, is mandated to oversee higher and technical education in Sierra Leone. She described higher education as the “finishing house” of the education system and stressed that technology is increasingly central to education delivery. She noted that a strengthened partnership with Orange would help Sierra Leone compete globally in the digital space.
Speaking on behalf of Orange Sierra Leone, General Secretary Danetta Young thanked the Ministry for the engagement and introduced the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, Aicha Toure. Young said Toure brings extensive experience in digital transformation and innovation, including leadership roles within the Orange Group and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Young noted that Orange has operated in Sierra Leone for nearly nine years and, beyond telecommunications services, remains committed to supporting education through its digital ecosystem. She acknowledged the Ministry’s leadership in human capital development and the ongoing collaboration between the two institutions.
In her remarks, Orange Sierra Leone CEO Aicha Toure reaffirmed the company’s commitment to a sustained partnership with MTHE. She said Orange’s work focuses on connectivity, financial inclusion, and education, which she described as critical pillars of national development. Toure pledged continued support to improving the lives and well-being of Sierra Leoneans through digital-driven initiatives.
Also present at the meeting were Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer Dr. Josephus Brimah, and Student Secretary George A. Dambo.