The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) on Friday, 30th January, 2026, hosted a delegation from Orange Sierra Leone as both institutions renewed their commitment to strengthening collaboration on digital skills development and human capital growth.

The meeting took place at the office of the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, at New England Ville in Freetown.

Welcoming the delegation, MTHE’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mohamed Sheick Kargbo, said the engagement came at an important time for the sector. He noted that closer cooperation with Orange Sierra Leone would enhance the effective use of digital tools across technical and higher education institutions. Mr. Kargbo reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to partnerships that support national development, particularly in the area of skills and innovation.

In her remarks, Dr. Wurie thanked the Orange Sierra Leone team for the engagement and described the company as a key private-sector partner in human capital development. She said the partnership aligned with the government’s national development vision, where education and skills training remain central priorities.

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The Minister emphasized that human capital development continues to guide government policy, building on flagship education programmes introduced during President Julius Maada Bio’s first term and sustained into his second term. She commended Orange Sierra Leone for its financial and technical support across multiple levels of education, including basic, senior secondary, and tertiary institutions.

Dr. Wurie also affirmed the impact of Orange’s Women’s Digital Centers, noting that they have created opportunities for women, including those without formal education, to acquire digital and entrepreneurial skills suited to the modern economy. She further referenced Orange-supported innovation platforms for young people, citing examples of beneficiaries whose initiatives, she said, could be institutionalized within the Ministry to achieve broader impact.

The Minister expressed optimism about the future of the partnership, particularly in light of the appointment of Orange Sierra Leone’s new Chief Executive Officer, whose background in digital transformation and innovation she described as an added advantage. She concluded by warmly welcoming the CEO to the Ministry and to Sierra Leone, and expressed hope that her tenure would be productive and impactful.

Speaking on behalf of Orange Sierra Leone, the company’s General Secretary, Ms. Danetta Young, thanked the Minister and the Ministry’s leadership for the opportunity to engage. She formally introduced the new Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Aicha Toure, highlighting her extensive experience in digital transformation and innovation, including senior roles within the Orange Group and the completion of an MBA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Ms. Young noted that Orange Sierra Leone has operated in the country for nearly nine years and, while primarily a telecommunications company, recognizes the importance of supporting education through its digital ecosystem. She commended the Ministry’s leadership on human capital development and acknowledged the existing areas of collaboration between the two institutions.

In her statement, Orange Sierra Leone’s CEO, Ms. Aicha Toure, expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustained partnership with MTHE. She said Orange’s work is centered on connectivity, financial inclusion, and education, which she described as core pillars of the company’s mission.

Ms. Toure affirmed the Ministry’s critical role in national development and said she was committed to supporting initiatives that improve the well-being of the people of Sierra Leone through continued collaboration with government and other stakeholders.