Sierra Leone Chief Minister Advocates Collaboration with UAE in Education and Technology at WGS 2024

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Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, the Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the strong strategic ties between Sierra Leone and the UAE, particularly in education and technology sectors. Emphasizing the mutual dedication to youth development, he highlighted the importance of further cooperation, particularly in education, to exchange knowledge and bolster skills crucial for sustainable governance.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the World Governments Summit (WGS 2024) in Dubai, Sengeh underscored the summit’s significance as a platform for global leaders to exchange ideas and shape future governance models. He outlined Sierra Leone’s vision for economic transformation, aiming to achieve middle-income status by 2035 through the implementation of the Big Five agenda, which includes Feed Salone, Human Capital Development, Youth Employment, Revamping the Public Service Architecture, and Tech and Infrastructure.

Sengeh emphasized the pivotal role of investing in human capital and empowering youth to propel progress, with plans to create job opportunities for 500,000 youths under the National Development Plan. Notably, Sierra Leone has seen a notable focus on education over the past five years, resulting in an increase in the number of students in schools to over a million, with a rise ranging from 38% to 70% in junior and senior secondary schools, along with advancements in early childhood education.

Furthermore, Sengeh stressed the importance of strengthening digital infrastructure to support Sierra Leone’s economic aspirations, aligning with the national agenda to leverage technology for economic growth.