The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, has undertaken a series of engagements during the week to strengthen international academic cooperation and advance technical skills development.
Among them was her participation as Chief Guest at the Study in India Education Fair 2026, an initiative aimed at widening overseas study opportunities for Sierra Leonean students while deepening education ties between Sierra Leone and India.
In her remarks, the Minister underscored the importance of such platforms in exposing young people to diverse academic programmes, scholarship pathways, and career opportunities aligned with the demands of an evolving global economy.
She later joined the Minister of Youth Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Defense at the graduation ceremony of the Armed Forces Technical and Education College (AFTEC), where more than 300 trainees completed vocational programmes. Notably, the majority of graduates were women trained in solar installation, welding, construction, and auto mechanics, fields traditionally dominated by men.
Dr. Wurie described the strong female participation as both inspiring and progressive. Graduates received sector-specific start-up kits, and several have already secured employment, reflecting growing public-private collaboration in youth skills development and job creation.
She commended AFTEC and its partners (UNDP Sierra Leone, Africell Group, Women in Energy, and the National Youth Commission) for investing in practical training that promotes productivity, entrepreneurship, and gender inclusion.
The Minister concluded that the engagements highlighted the critical role of both local and international education in driving national growth and transformation.
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