Technical and Higher Education Minister Discusses Sierra Leone’s Educational Transformation with Qatari Counterpart, Solicits Support to Construct Ahmed Tejan Kabbah University of Education and Technology

Cyril Barnes
Information Attaché

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie on Sunday 9th June 2024 held bilateral discussions with her Qatari counterpart, Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi on Sierra Leone’s educational transformation under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

Speaking on the purpose of her two-day working visit to Doha, the Honourable Minister expressed Sierra Leone’s keenness to foster its education sector in collaboration with the State of Qatar, through the implementation of the Education Agreement (Memorandum for Cooperation in the Field of Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research) signed and ratified between the two countries in 2022.

Highlighting the government’s priority areas in Human Capital Development, Dr. Wurie presented the proposed Ahmed Tejan Kabba University in the Port Loko District, soliciting support for its construction; she stressed that the construction of the proposed University would contribute significantly to the educational development of the country and further strengthen the existing ties between the two countries.

“Additionally, I am eager to discuss other potential projects, including the construction and equipment of the six (6) Technical/Vocational Institutes in Falaba, Karene, Makeni, Port Loko, Bonthe and Koindu to further enhance the educational landscape in Sierra Leone. Other areas of interest include collaborative research initiatives, faculty exchange programs, and joint academic conferences. I am open to exploring various avenues that align with Sierra Leone’s and Qatar’s educational goals,” the Technical and Higher Education explained.

For her part, Qatar’s Minister of Higher Education, Her Excellency Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, acknowledged Sierra Leone’s strides in developing the human capital over the years, adding that the two countries have worked closely to achieve educational outcomes. She expressed her country’s willingness to support, indicating that discussions with other agencies like the Qatar Fund would be communicated for follow-ups.

Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie also held a meeting with the Acting Director-General Mr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Asiri of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), where she presented the prototype of the proposed University, as well as the architectural drawings and bill of quantities for the six technical institutes. Mr. Al Asiri indicated the Fund’s willingness to support and proposed to visit Sierra Leone, during which modalities will be implemented regarding the two projects.

Other institutions she met during her working visit were the Education Above All Foundation and the Research and Innovation Council. The Education Above All Foundation supports approximately 45,000 out-of-school children (OOSC) in Sierra Leone at an estimated cost of four ($4) million.