Orange-SL Alfie Barrie Speaks at UNIMAK Expo

Makeni, Saturday, 5 July 2025 The future of Sierra Leone’s digital transformation took center stage on Saturday evening as Alfie Barrie, Public Relations Officer at Orange Sierra Leone, delivered a rousing keynote address to an enthusiastic audience at the University of Makeni’s (UNIMAK) Computer Science Department Dinner & Tech Expo. The event, held at the Fatima Campus, brought together students, faculty, industry leaders, and innovators under the theme: “Youth in Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation in Sierra Leone.”

Mr. Barrie, standing in for Orange SL CEO Sekou Amadou Bah, opened with a message of encouragement and belief in the power of Sierra Leone’s youth. “Mr. Bah sends his warmest regards,” Barrie announced, “and he’s asked me to step into a very big shoe.”

A Nation on the Move

In his dynamic speech, Mr. Barrie urged students not to see themselves as passive recipients of global innovation, but as active contributors already shaping Sierra Leone’s digital narrative. “In Sierra Leone,” he declared, “we’re not waiting to catch up we are already sprinting forward.”

He highlighted grassroots innovation efforts across the country, from coding clubs in rural communities to solar-powered classrooms, showcasing the strides young people are making in applying technology to local challenges. He commended innovators building rainfall-tracking apps for farmers, e-learning platforms to empower girls, and connectivity tools for underserved areas, reinforcing the idea that homegrown solutions are already making global waves.

The Role of Orange Sierra Leone

Barrie went on to describe how Orange Sierra Leone is investing in this momentum, not just through infrastructure, but through people. He spotlighted several key initiatives that are helping shape the digital future of the nation:

Nationwide Internet Expansion: A commitment to extending seamless connectivity even to remote areas, ensuring that no student or innovator is left behind.

Orange Digital Centre (ODC) in Freetown and ODC Clubs, including one at UNIMAK: These centres offer hands-on training in coding, app development, ICT literacy, and life skills, reaching more than 3,000 young people to date, with 40% being young women. Many participants have gone on to secure employment or launch startups.

Fab Lab: A creative prototyping space that enables students and tech enthusiasts to bring their socially impactful ideas to life.

Orange Fab: A launchpad for tech innovators to pitch their projects and connect with investors, corporate partners, and international funders.

“We don’t see ourselves as just a telco,” Barrie emphasized. “We are partners in digital transformation
unlocking potential, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring that technology works for everyone.”

A Call to Action

In perhaps the most stirring part of his address, Mr. Barrie turned directly to the students: “You are not just the future you are the now. You are the builders, thinkers, and creators who will shape Sierra Leone’s destiny.”

He acknowledged the challenges that come with innovation, noting, “There will be setbacks… but we are the most connected, most creative generation this country has ever seen.” He encouraged greater collaboration among government, private sector, civil society, and educational institutions to harness youth potential.

Closing his speech with a powerful appeal, Mr. Barrie called for collective investment in the country’s young minds: “Let’s invest not just in gadgets, but in fearless hearts and bold ideas. Let’s build a nation connected not only by fiber optics, but by shared vision and homegrown innovation.”

The hall erupted in applause as students and faculty were visibly inspired by his message a moment that underscored the central message of the evening: Sierra Leone’s digital future is already being shaped in classrooms and innovation labs across the country, one bold idea at a time.