Chief Minister of Sierra Leone Dr. David Moinina Sengeh has reiterated the close strategic relations between Sierra Leone and the UAE across diverse sectors, including education and technology.

Highlighting the shared commitment to youth development, he emphasised the importance of further collaboration, particularly in education, to exchange expertise and enhance skills essential for sustainable governance.

In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the World Governments Summit (WGS 2024) in Dubai, Sengeh underscored the event's significance as a platform for global leaders to share insights and shape future governance models.

The Chief Minister outlined Sierra Leone's vision for economic transformation, aiming to become a middle-income country by 2035 through the "Big Five" agenda. The move includes Feed Salone, Human Capital Development, Youth Employment, Revamping the Public Service Architecture, and Tech and Infrastructure.

He emphasised investment in human capital and youth empowerment as pivotal for driving progress, with plans to employ 500,000 youths under the National Development Plan.

Over the past five years, there has been a significant focus on education, leading to an increase in the number of additional learners in schools to over a million students, with an increase ranging from 38% to 70% in junior and senior secondary schools, and the development of early childhood education.

Sengeh stressed the need to bolster digital infrastructure to support Sierra Leone's economic goals, aligning with the national agenda to harness technology for economic growth.