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The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation (MoTA) have conducted a tour of the Automotive Training Centre of Excellence at Freetown Polytechnic’s Kissy Campus to explore potential collaboration.
The Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, described the facility as a critical hub for youth empowerment, technical skills development, and job creation. He also disclosed plans to expand its scope beyond training to include vehicle servicing for government institutions, an initiative intended to generate revenue and support the centre’s sustainability.
Minister of Transport and Aviation, Alhaji Fanday Turay, commended the centre’s strong emphasis on hands-on training, noting that practical skills are indispensable in modern technical education.
He encouraged greater female participation and proposed deeper collaboration in areas such as vehicle maintenance, road safety, and local vehicle assembly. He further suggested the formation of a technical team to guide formal partnership discussions.
Furthermore, the Dean of Freetown Polytechnic’s Kissy Campus, Prince Brainard, highlighted the importance of specialization and teamwork, urging students to build expertise in specific fields to enhance service delivery and develop sustainable enterprises. He emphasized that strategic partnerships will be key to sustaining and expanding the centre’s impact.
One of the Trainers at the Centre, Tamba Komba, raised concerns about limited access to diagnostic software and slow IT systems, which continue to constrain advanced training.
Finally, the centre was implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with funding from the Government of Japan, and was established following a request by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio.
