The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) in partnership with the leading telecommunications company - Orange Sierra Leone - and the global technology giant - Huawei - has announced the launch of the inaugural Sierra Leone ICT Talent Development Programme.The programme is designed to harness and nurture the digital skills of exceptional university graduates, equipping them with cutting-edge Information Communication Technology (ICT) competencies.

As part of the national strategy to foster digital literacy, these skilled individuals will be charged with the mission of imparting their knowledge to secondary school pupils and traders within the country, thereby expanding the digital footprint of Sierra Leone.

A select group of 50 young talents will have the unique opportunity to undergo a comprehensive, fully funded one-week intensive training session at the Orange Digital Center located in Freetown. Huawei specialists will lead the training that will focus on critical and timely topics, such as Cyber Security and Digital Marketing.Following the completion of the initial training phase, participants that demonstrate exceptional aptitude will be chosen to lead training sessions for secondary school pupils and traders across eight districts in the country.

This deployment aims to drive the digital transformation of the nation's education sector and commercial activities through enhanced ICT literacy.The Ministry has indicated that successful candidates would receive incentives, the details of which would be provided upon their final selection.

To qualify for this transformative programme, applicants are required to:
- Hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related ICT field from a recognized university, with certification obtained within the last three years;
- Exhibit excellent presentation and public speaking abilities;
- Show readiness to commit to the intensive training regimen and to actively engage in subsequent training activities within the community; and,
- Submit a comprehensive resume and complete the application process via the official portal at https://bit.ly/ICTtalentdev-sl.
The deadline for application submission is the 26th of April, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

This strategic collaboration among MoCTI, Huawei and Orange Sierra Leone signifies a robust commitment to fostering a digitally skilled workforce, which is essential for the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone in the 21st century.The ICT Talent Development Programme is poised to set a precedent for future education and skills development initiatives within the region.