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The Government of Sierra Leone is moving to strengthen the professional capacity of the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) through a potential partnership with the International Islamic News Agency (IINA).
The proposal for media development was a key subject of discussion on Thursday during a high-level meeting between the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, and Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Barrie.
During the courtesy visit at the Youyi Building, Ambassador Barrie and Minister Bah explored avenues to leverage Sierra Leone’s membership in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the benefit of the state media apparatus. A primary focus was establishing a collaborative framework with the IINA—the specialized media organ of the OIC—to provide technical training and capacity building for SLENA staff.
Ambassador Barrie noted that as a member of the OIC, the world’s second-largest international organization, Sierra Leone is positioned to access various developmental resources, including those offered by the Jeddah-based news agency.
Beyond the media sector, the meeting addressed the government’s broader “Big Five” agenda. The two officials reviewed the ongoing cooperation between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia, reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral ties and enhancing service delivery for the people of Sierra Leone.
Minister Bah expressed gratitude for the Ambassador’s proactive engagement and pledged the Ministry’s readiness to work with the Embassy in Saudi Arabia to actualize these training opportunities for the national news agency.
