Fostering International Partnerships for Technological Advancement with the Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation Madam Salima Bah
Fostering strategic partnerships with Canadian universities will be vital in helping Sierra Leone expand its technology landscape, including the country’s visionary Tech Innovation City concept. This and other important perspectives emerged from a recent meeting between Salima Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation, and Special Envoy May-Marie Duwai-Sowa.
The two met on April 4, 2024 in the capital city of Freetown to discuss potential technology collaborations between Sierra Leone and Canada.
Minister Bah was appointed to her role in July 2023, as the youngest Minister of the Sierra Leone government. Minister Bah earned a law degree from the University of Wales and practised as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone.
Noting the pivotal role to be played by universities, Minister Bah underscored the potential for talent outsourcing and capacity building, particularly among Sierra Leone’s youth demographic as avenues for driving growth and innovation within the private sector.
Important initiatives for the Ministry include the Tech Innovation Summit slated for June 2024 and the Tech Innovation City, poised to be an academia-centric hub. These initiatives aim to jumpstart progress across key sectors including agriculture, human capital development, technology and infrastructure, thus empowering citizens and helping propel the nation towards sustainable prosperity.
The upcoming Tech Innovation Summit will highlight themes such as agritech solutions, the use of robotics for agriculture, and innovative investment strategies. Through a mix of roundtable discussions and panel sessions, the summit will bring together a range of ideas, with a goal of converging finance, development strategy, market dynamics, and skills enhancement to drive tangible impact.
Integral to the success of these endeavours will be collaboration with Canadian institutions, such as the University of Guelph, known worldwide for its expertise in agricultural technology and innovation, as well as McMaster University, which is situated close to the Office of the SEIRTI in Hamilton. As an alumna of the University of Guelph and a former employee of McMaster University, the Special Envoy intends to leverage these connections to help create partnerships and propel Sierra Leone toward technological excellence.
Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa said she was truly grateful to the Minister for her receptiveness and vision, along with their shared commitment to advancing Sierra Leone’s potential on the global stage.
“This meeting exemplified the power of partnership and the collective resolve to transcend borders in pursuit of shared prosperity and progress,” stated Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa.
Duwai-Sowa represents Sierra Leone’s Office of the Special Envoy for International Relations, Trade, and Investment (SEIRTI), which is based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Born in Sierra Leone and now living in Canada, Special Envoy Duwai-Sowa holds both Canadian and Sierra Leone citizenship.
