Minister Salima Monorma Bah has welcomed Ms Mariko Kagoshima, the new UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, during a courtesy visit at NaTCA Tower, Imatt, Freetown, to discuss continued collaboration between MoCTI and UNICEF on digital learning and digital public infrastructure.
The discussions covered expanding the Digital Learning Hubs set up by the The Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation – DSTI with UNICEF support, and connecting more schools to the internet through Project Giga. The hubs at Fourah Bay College and the Institute of Public Administration and Management in Freetown, Ernest Bai Koroma University in Makeni and Eastern Technical University in Kenema have given young people the chance to learn basic computer skills.
The meeting also covered the Open Source First Policy launched during UNGA81, including linking government systems across health, education, birth registration and social protection, and building local capacity to maintain digital platforms. Responsible AI use by teachers and students, child online safety, and youth consultations on deepfakes, misinformation and children’s rights in the digital age were also on the agenda.
Thank you to UNICEF Sierra Leone for their continued support.
