Chief Minister Sengeh Champions Inclusive Digital Empowerment
Cheshire Home, Race Course Road, Cline Town, Freetown – 7th November 2025 Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) with support from the World Bank, has officially handed over a range of assistive devices to institutions serving persons with disabilities. The event, held under the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP), represents a major step in advancing the government’s agenda for inclusive education, digital empowerment, and human capital development.
The handover ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, the Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, the World Bank’s Country Manager for Sierra Leone, representatives from the Universal Access Development Fund (UADF), the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), and leaders from beneficiary institutions including the Dorothy Springer Trust, Educational Centre for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Bombali School for the Blind, and the Opportunity Training Centre.
Delivering the keynote statement, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh described the occasion as a clear demonstration of how government-led digital transformation can directly improve lives and expand opportunity for all citizens.
“Today, we are not just talking about theory or vision we are demonstrating real impact,” Dr. Sengeh said. “The $400,000 worth of assistive devices being handed over today is a direct investment in the potential of our children and youth with disabilities across the country.”
Dr. Sengeh explained that the initiative was financed through the $50 million World Bank grant under the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project. He emphasized that these tangible results reflect how government projects are translating funding into measurable change, ensuring that persons with disabilities can access education, training, and resources that enable them to reach their fullest potential.
Linking the effort to President Julius Maada Bio’s National Development Plan, Dr. Sengeh reiterated that Sierra Leone’s vision to become a middle-income country by 2039 will only be achieved when every citizen regardless of ability has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society.
“Our national development plan rests on five key pillars: Human Capital Development, Feed Salone, Youth Empowerment, Technology & Innovation, and Public Sector Reform,” he said. “Today’s initiative touches three of those pillars by investing in learning, employment, and technology, we are strengthening the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous nation.”
In her welcome address, Kumba Liliana Musa, Project Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, explained the careful and inclusive approach taken to identify the beneficiary institutions.
She noted that the MCTI, working in close collaboration with the Universal Access Development Fund (UADF) and the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), conducted a nationwide assessment to evaluate institutional needs, capabilities, and readiness.
“The selection process was guided by clear criteria focusing on engagement, level of need, and capacity to effectively use and maintain the devices,” Musa said. “This approach ensured that the devices provided directly address the priorities of institutions supporting persons with disabilities.”
She emphasized that the handover represents more than the delivery of physical tools it is a reflection of the government’s commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and equitable opportunity for all Sierra Leoneans.
The CEO of the Dorothy Springer Trust (DST) described the event as a historic milestone for persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone. Sharing her personal experience of overcoming polio to achieve academic and professional success, she spoke passionately about the transformative power of education, technology, and equal access.
“Assistive devices are not just tools they are gateways to independence, inclusion, and dignity,” she said.
She reaffirmed DST’s commitment to advancing empowerment through ICT training, Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID), and employment creation, highlighting that over 300 Sierra Leoneans with disabilities have already benefited from DST’s digital inclusion and skills programs.
The CEO called for deeper collaboration among government, partners, and communities to ensure that progress toward inclusion and accessibility continues to expand nationwide.
The handover of assistive devices under the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project underscores how strategic partnerships between government, development partners, and local institutions can yield tangible, life-changing impact.
Through the provision of $400,000 worth of assistive equipment, the initiative will enable children and youth with disabilities to access more learning materials, vocational training, and digital resources empowering them to participate fully in education, employment, and community life.
Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh reaffirmed that the initiative reflects the broader vision of President Julius Maada Bio’s Human Capital Development agenda, which prioritizes inclusive growth, youth empowerment, and the integration of technology into every aspect of national development.
“There is nothing we do as a government that is not shaped by a vision,” Dr. Sengeh concluded. “These devices are not just equipment they are a bridge to opportunity, growth, and a more inclusive Sierra Leone.”
Participating Institutions and Partners
• Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MCTI)
• World Bank
• Universal Access Development Fund (UADF)
• National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD)
• Dorothy Springer Trust (DST)
• Educational Centre for the Blind & Visually Impaired
• Bombali School for the Blind
• Opportunity Training Centre
• Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP)
CHIEF MINISTER’S
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
