While Acknowledging Local Tech Adoption… Africell CEO Calls for Female Inclusion In All Aspects Of Development
Shadi Gerjawi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africell Sierra Leone, took center stage at the Salone Civic Festival 2024, held at the Youyi Building on December 12, 2024. Participating in a high-level panel discussion moderated by Mohamed Jaward Nyallay of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Gerjawi shared valuable insights on the transformative role of technology, innovation, and infrastructure in Sierra Leone’s development.
During his address, Shadi Gerjawi spotlighted the revolutionary impact of Africell’s flagship financial platform, Afrimoney, on promoting financial inclusion in the country. He explained that Afrimoney has drastically cut down the time required to complete financial transactions. “When we talk about financial inclusion, we have reduced the process from three hours to just one minute,” he revealed. “In the past, making a payment or cashing a cheque required a trip to the bank, often resulting in long waits and high transportation costs. Now, with our initiatives, these transactions can be completed from the comfort of your homes.”
The Salone Civic Festival 2024 brought together a distinguished lineup of speakers and panelists, including Salima Monorna Bah, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Hawa Kone, and Dennis Sandy. The forum facilitated rich dialogue on key issues impacting the nation, with special focus on technology, education, and gender inclusion.
Expanding on Africell’s commitment to technological advancement, Gerjawi highlighted the unseen efforts that fuel the company’s innovative products and services. While the public sees the “bright lights and bright colors” of Africell’s services, Gerjawi emphasized the extensive investment, design work, and problem-solving that take place behind the scenes. “Just like a tree, where the roots go deep underground, much of our work is hidden from public view,” he explained, using the analogy to illustrate the hidden complexities that support visible successes.
The CEO also underscored Africell’s commitment to education, particularly in providing support to schools. He pointed out the existing digital divide among schools in Freetown and parts of the provinces, with some having access to computing resources, while others still lack such facilities. According to him, this disparity underscores Africell’s resolve to bridge the technological gap for all learners.
In a nod to gender equity, Gerjawi addressed the underrepresentation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, and revealed that despite the growing number of female graduates in engineering, it remains a challenge to recruit female engineers for Africell’s technical department. “We’ve been actively trying to get more female engineers into our technical department, but it has been one of the most difficult tasks,” he admitted. He encouraged women to pursue careers in technical fields, highlighting the immense potential for growth and impact.
When asked to offer advice to young people interested in the tech sector, Shadi Gerjawi took the opportunity to stress the importance of supporting local technological solutions. He emphasized the need to embrace systems developed locally instead of relying solely on imported solutions. “At Africell, ten years ago, we made the decision to venture with local entrepreneurs, who were developing systems here in Sierra Leone rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions from abroad,” he said. While importing systems would have been cheaper, Africell’s decision to invest locally has proven to be a sustainable and impactful strategy.
As Africell continues to lead in the telecommunications sector, its initiatives like Afrimoney and its support for local innovation demonstrate the company’s people-centered approach. By fostering financial inclusion, promoting educational support, and championing gender equity in STEM, Africell is helping to shape a more connected, inclusive, and technologically advanced Sierra Leone.
African & Glodal Partner Commit To Support Govt’s Energy Sector
On Friday 6th December, 2024 – Delegates from across Africa and global partners in the energy sector, led by Franz Drees-Gross, the West African Regional Director of the World Bank, paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, at State House in Freetown. The delegation briefed the President on their ongoing conference in Sierra Leone, aimed at advancing energy solutions across the continent.
Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, introduced the team to President Bio and praised his commitment to the energy sector. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s selection as the host for the design of the new Centralised Access to Energy Solutions initiative, which aims to scale up successes from the World Bank’s Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project in Sierra Leone, delivering greater access to energy for the nation. The program is spearheaded by the World Bank, Sustainable Energy for All, and other global partners.
Addressing the President, West African Regional Director of the World Bank, Franz Drees-Gross, explained that Mission 300 is an ambitious initiative to connect 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa to electricity by 2030. He attributed Sierra Leone’s involvement to the government’s strong political commitment and the nation’s progress in co-procuring solar grid projects alongside Liberia, Chad, and Togo.
“The decision to come here reflects Sierra Leone’s remarkable strides in energy reforms,” Drees-Gross noted. He extended an invitation to President Bio to share Sierra Leone’s experiences and leadership insights with other African heads of state during a high-level meeting in Tanzania in early 2025.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, commended Sierra Leone for electrifying six healthcare centers under the Mission 300 framework. She announced plans to electrify 37 additional centers in the coming months. Ogunbiyi emphasized the transformative nature of the initiative, which brings together the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union, and private sector players to deliver sustainable energy solutions.
Joseph Nganga, Vice President of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), praised the reforms spearheaded by President Bio, underscoring the significance of Sierra Leone’s progress in the energy sector. “Your leadership is driving the country to deliver ambitious yet achievable goals in electrification, making energy reliable and affordable for Sierra Leoneans,” he said.
Welcoming the delegates and partners, President Bio expressed gratitude for their commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s energy agenda. He acknowledged the longstanding challenges of energy supply and reliability in the country, reiterating his government’s resolve to overcome them.
“Energy is a prerequisite for development. As a small nation, we are determined to emerge from these challenges through strategic partnerships with global institutions and stakeholders,” President Bio affirmed. He assured the delegation of Sierra Leone’s readiness to collaborate in advancing innovative energy solutions for the benefit of its citizens and the continent at large.
The courtesy call signifies a major step in Sierra Leone’s energy transition journey, with Mission 300 and its global partners positioning the nation as a leader in renewable and affordable energy access in Africa.
