By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, His Excellency Mohamed Yongawo, has intensified efforts to expand educational, scientific and technological opportunities for Sierra Leoneans following a series of engagements in Novosibirsk, Russia.
At the invitation of Novosibirsk Governor Andrei Travnikov and the Center for People’s Diplomacy, Ambassador Yongawo attended TECNOPROM XIII, the International Forum of Technological Development, held from August 25 to 28, 2026.
The forum brought together government officials, academics, scientists and business leaders to discuss technological innovation, development and international cooperation.
Speaking at a meeting with Governor Travnikov and representatives from various countries, Ambassador Yongawo highlighted Sierra Leone’s ongoing transformation under President Julius Maada Bio, particularly in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
He cited the establishment of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) in the Office of the President as a key initiative aimed at advancing national digital transformation and public-sector innovation.
“Sierra Leone cannot do it alone. We need partners who share our vision and are prepared to work with us in developing the human capital, knowledge and technological capacity required to transform our country,” Ambassador Yongawo said.
The Ambassador said Human Capital Development remains a major priority for the Government of Sierra Leone, with significant investments being made in education and skills development.
He stressed that international partnerships are essential to achieving the country’s development ambitions and called on universities, research institutions, scientists and business leaders attending the forum to establish sustainable partnerships with Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Yongawo also encouraged Russian institutions to explore practical areas of cooperation that could directly benefit Sierra Leonean students, universities, researchers and professionals.
With support from the Center for People’s Diplomacy, the Ambassador visited three prominent universities in Novosibirsk: Novosibirsk State University of Science and Technology, Novosibirsk State University of Biotechnology, and Novosibirsk State University of Architecture, Art and Design.
The visits provided an opportunity to discuss potential cooperation between Russian and Sierra Leonean higher education institutions.
Areas explored included student enrolment, academic exchanges, institutional partnerships, scientific research, faculty cooperation, capacity building and technological collaboration.
Particular attention was given to potential partnerships between engineering faculties in Novosibirsk and their counterparts in Sierra Leone, with discussions focusing on the possibility of establishing direct institutional links.
The universities reportedly expressed readiness to explore concrete areas of collaboration with Sierra Leonean institutions.
Such partnerships could create new opportunities for Sierra Leonean students to pursue specialized studies in Russia while providing local universities and academics with access to Russian expertise, research and technological advancements.
According to Ambassador Yongawo, the initiative goes beyond creating individual opportunities for students. He said the broader objective is to establish long-term institutional partnerships capable of strengthening Sierra Leone’s universities, developing human capital and facilitating the transfer of knowledge, skills and technology to the country.
The Novosibirsk engagements form part of the Ambassador’s broader efforts to deepen practical cooperation between Sierra Leone and the Russian Federation, with education, science, technology and human capital development emerging as key areas of collaboration.
Sierra Leone and Russia have maintained diplomatic relations since Sierra Leone gained independence, with education and technical training among the traditional areas of cooperation.
In recent years, the Government of Sierra Leone has placed greater emphasis on Human Capital Development, particularly education, skills development and digital infrastructure under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio.
TECNOPROM is one of Russia’s major platforms for technological development and international collaboration.
Follow-up discussions between the Russian universities and their Sierra Leonean counterparts are expected in the coming months, with the aim of identifying and formalizing specific areas of cooperation.