The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has hosted a delegation from Orange Sierra Leone to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions. The meeting was held at the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie’s office at New England Ville, Freetown.
Chairing the meeting, MTHE’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mohamed Sheick Kargbo, welcomed Orange Sierra Leone team and said the meeting came at the right time. He noted that working more closely with Orange would improve the use of digital tools in technical and higher education institutions, and he reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to partnerships that support national development.
In her remarks, Minister Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie thanked the Orange delegation for the engagement and acknowledged Orange as a strategic private-sector partner, particularly in the area of human capital development, which she said aligned directly with the national development vision. She noted that human capital development remained a priority of government policy, building on flagship education initiatives from the President’s first term and continuing into the second term. The Minister commended Orange for its financial and technical support across various education sectors, including basic, senior secondary, and tertiary education.
Dr. Wurie further highlighted the impact of Orange’s Women’s Digital Centers, noting that they provided opportunities for women, including those without formal education, to acquire entrepreneurial and digital skills relevant to today’s economy. She also referenced Orange-supported innovation platforms for young people, citing examples of beneficiaries whose initiatives could be institutionalized within the Ministry. The Minister expressed confidence that the partnership would continue to grow, particularly given the new CEO’s background in digital transformation and innovation.
She concluded by warmly welcoming the CEO to the Ministry and to Sierra Leone, expressing hope that her tenure in the country would be productive, impactful, and memorable.
MTHE’s Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Sia Fasuluku, described MTHE as a relatively young ministry, established in 2018 with the mandate to oversee higher and technical education in Sierra Leone. She said the Ministry views human capital development as central to national development and described education as the “finishing house” in the country’s education system. Fasuluku emphasized the growing role of technology in education and expressed optimism that a partnership with Orange would help Sierra Leone leverage technology to compete with counterparts globally.
Speaking on behalf of Orange Sierra Leone, Danetta Young, General Secretary of Orange Sierra Leone, thanked the Minister and the Ministry’s leadership for the opportunity to engage. She formally introduced the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, Aicha Toure, highlighting her extensive background in digital transformation and innovation, including previous leadership roles within Orange and the completion of an MBA at MIT. Young noted that Orange had operated in Sierra Leone for nearly nine years and, while primarily a telecommunications company, recognized the importance of supporting education through its digital ecosystem. She commended the Ministry’s leadership in human capital development and acknowledged ongoing collaborations.
Orange Sierra Leone’s CEO, Aicha Toure, expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continued collaboration. She said Orange’s work focuses on connectivity, financial inclusion, and education, which she described as foundational to the company’s mission. Toure highlighted the importance of the Ministry’s role in national development and stated her commitment to supporting the well-being of the people of Sierra Leone through sustained partnership.
Other members present were Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education; Dr. Josephus Brimah, Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer; and George A. Dambo, Student Secretary.