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The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has intensified efforts to expand access to quality higher education and build human resource capacity through strengthened international partnerships, as it engaged the Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) during a high-level courtesy visit.
The engagement followed a visit by NTAC’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Rt. Hon. Dr Yusuf Buba Yakub, to the Ministry’s Conference Room at the Sababu Building in New England Ville.
The meeting brought together key Ministry officials, including the Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr Josephus Brimah, Director of Human Resources, Rebecca Saffa, and was chaired by Permanent Secretary Mohamed Sheick Kargbo.
Speaking during the meeting, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s strong partnership with Nigeria, describing it as longstanding and impactful.
She praised Nigeria’s continued support to local universities through the deployment of volunteer lecturers and specialists, noting their contributions to institutions such as the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences and the former Freetown Teachers College, now Freetown Polytechnic.
Dr Wurie highlighted the government’s priority to expand medical education, particularly through plans to establish a second medical school at Njala University. She emphasised that increased faculty support is essential to address staffing gaps and boost the production of healthcare professionals in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.
She also called for targeted assistance to the newly established Kono University of Science and Technology, especially in the fields of mining, science, and technology, to support national development goals.
The Minister further commended the role of Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in supporting Sierra Leone’s move toward a centralised higher education admissions system. She expressed interest in learning from Nigeria’s model for sustainable financing of tertiary institutions.
Looking ahead, Dr. Wurie disclosed plans to establish a National School of Postgraduate Studies aimed at coordinating doctoral training across universities. She identified the shortage of qualified PhD supervisors as a critical challenge and appealed for support to strengthen postgraduate education and research capacity.
In response, Dr. Yakub reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone through technical assistance and capacity building. He described the bilateral relationship as one rooted in decades of cooperation and expressed optimism about future engagements, including the planned Nigeria–Sierra Leone Economic Summit later in 2026.
He revealed that NTAC has nominated twelve additional experts across key disciplines, including biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, microbiology, pharmacology, nursing, neurology, pediatrics, neonatal care, and midwifery, pending final approvals.
Dr. Yakub added that while 24 NTAC volunteers are currently serving in Sierra Leone, 19 are expected to complete their assignments in the coming months. He urged that future requests be channelled through the Nigerian Embassy to ensure timely processing.
Meanwhile, Director of Human Resources Rebecca Saffa noted that an NTAC volunteer at the Mattru School of Nursing will conclude his assignment this month.
She reminded institutions that, in line with Ministry policy, volunteers serve a maximum of two years and advised that fresh applications be submitted where replacements are required
