Telecom Stakeholders Push for unlocking Digital Economy in Sierra Leone

Telecom Stakeholders Push for unlocking Digital Economy in Sierra Leone

By VOS Reporter

The Ministry of Information and Communications in partnership with the National Telecommunications Authority, under the Smart Africa Digitalisation Acceleration Program, hosted a three-day workshop on the Role of Government in Unlocking the Digital Economy. The workshop which starts on Tuesday and ends Thursday have brought together experts, thinkers from different countries including telecom operators and internet service providers in the country.

The event was held at the Atlantic Hotel, Lumley beach road.

The Program was Chaired by Tamba Juana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the ceremony gave the purpose of the workshop aiming at addressing the perennial challenges faced in the digital space.

He said the Workshop is aimed at creating synergy to deliver digital transformation, and reiterated how that cannot be achieved without the bringing all hands on deck.

“We can only deliver a digital economy when all hands are on deck”…. This is the time for us to come together and ensure that our people benefit from the digital space”, the Chairman tells the participants of the Workshop.

He also mentioned institutions in Sierra Leone like NacSA, Ministry of Technical and Higher Educations that have benefitted from digital transformation and called on others to follow suit.

 Chief Operating officer of Silence Technology at DSTI, Benjamin Davies, spoke succinctly about the role of DSTI to deal with science and technology issues in Sierra Leone.

According to him, since the setting up of DSTI they have worked relentlessly to tackle the problems affecting the digital space.

He also spoke about the contents they have put in place to make digital access simple and affordable in many institutions across the country.
Representative of MNOs mentioned about the strides made so far towards digital transformation.

“As MNOs, we are always ready and determined to work with our partners to deliver digitalisation to our people”, said the MNOs Representative.

The World Bank Representative also spoke lengthily about the positioning of a digital economy and the role played by the Bank towards digital transformation in Sierra Leone.

She disclosed about the Bank 50-Million-dollar digital transformation project which the Ministry of Information and Communications is currently implementing to improve the digital space. The Project, according to her, was divided into five components focusing on the expansion of the broadband and access to internet, digital skills and how to tackle digital illiteracy.

Representative from Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Fatmata Kaiwa, spoke about the system put in place by the Ministry to expand the digital space by providing the opportunity to students to do online courses.

With digitalisation and embracing technology, she said,  the system can be able to accommodate more students in University. “This is something that we need to embrace as a country”, she added, noting that the Ministry has drawn a policy to accredit online programs for students.

She also revealed about the collaboration which is currently underway to set up tech clubs to encourage students to embrace technology.

On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, Simeon Joejoe, said that digital economy provides pathway in the digital space and brings new ways of thinking, new opportunities and socio economic developments.

Speaking on behalf of the Universal Access Development Funds (UADF), Marie Momoh, Chief Executive Officer of UADF said they are very pleased to be part of the workshop.  She expressed hope that at the end of this workshop, they will be in a better position to leverage the new technology.

Director General of NatCA, Daniel Kaitibi, said that he is pleased to be part of the workshop to share ideas that could help to unlock the digital economy of Sierra Leone.

The DDG of Smart Africa, Didier Nkurikiyimfura, said the workshop is part of the smart Africa program to leverage the digital transformation. The mission of smart Africa is to transform digital economy by 2030, intimating how this can only be achieved with the fully support of their partners. He gave a statistic of 22% of the Africa Population that are connected to the digital space and said that very soon they will sign MOU with Sierra Leone to get a single market to promote digital economy by 2030.

He concluded by calling for all hands to be on deck to actualize this dream and make it a reality.