By Yusufu Abu Sesay
Orange Sierra Leone, the undisputed leader in the country’s telecommunications industry, on Friday 6th February 2026 held its annual media engagement, bringing together journalists, media executives, and key stakeholders to strengthen its partnership with the media.

The engagement which was held at the company’s Digital Center on Alpha Wurie Drive, Hill Station, Freetown, provided a comprehensive update on Orange Sierra Leone’s activities over the past year, with detailed presentations from the Finance, Network, Human Resources, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Orange Foundation, and Orange Money departments. Each department highlighted achievements, challenges, and future plans, reaffirming the company’s commitment to innovation, service quality, and national development.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Madam Aicha Toure reaffirmed the company’s leadership position and reiterated its commitment to delivering reliable, affordable, and innovative services. The CEO also underscored the importance of the media as strategic partners in promoting accurate information and responsible communication.

She described the engagement as both meaningful and historic, noting that it was her first media meeting since assuming office.
She praised the foundation laid by her predecessor, citing milestones in network expansion, digital inclusion, and corporate social responsibility.

Madam Toure reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding coverage, improving service quality, and ensuring that technology delivers measurable value to Sierra Leoneans. She emphasized that regulatory compliance, service excellence, and customer satisfaction remain central to Orange Sierra Leone’s operations.

Speaking on behalf of media partners, Proprietor and Managing Editor of The Owl Newspaper, Alhaji Dauda Bangura, applauded Orange Sierra Leone for its consistent and practical support to the media sector. He described the company as one of the few corporate institutions that has invested deliberately in journalists’ professional development.

Mr. Bangura highlighted Orange Sierra Leone’s recent nationwide digital skills training for journalists, noting that such initiatives have enhanced access to modern technology, improved information gathering, and strengthened professional standards. He characterized the relationship between the telecom giant and the media as mutually reinforcing—one that blends corporate support with responsible storytelling and strategic communication.

He further commended Orange Sierra Leone’s broader contributions to national development, particularly through affordable telecommunications services, promotional packages, and the steady expansion of Orange Money, which continues to transform lives across the country.

In his address, SLAJ President Mr. Alhaji Manika Kamara described Orange Sierra Leone as a dependable ally of the media, praising the company for recognizing journalism as a critical pillar of democracy and development. He noted that the engagement was timely and reflective of Orange’s sustained commitment to journalists’ welfare.

According to Mr. Kamara, Orange Sierra Leone has remained a major supporter of SLAJ activities, including sponsorship of Annual General Meetings and contributions to the SLAJ Welfare Fund—support he said has helped media institutions survive difficult political and operational periods.

He also acknowledged the company’s investment in higher education through scholarships that have enabled journalists to pursue Master’s and PhD programs at the University of Sierra Leone. Such interventions, he said, demonstrate a commitment to long-term human capital development. He further applauded Orange Sierra Leone’s support to the SLAJ Media Awards, which promote professionalism, ethics, and excellence in journalism.

Reaffirming SLAJ’s commitment to the partnership, Mr. Kamara described Orange Sierra Leone as not only a market leader in telecommunications but also a key partner in digital safety, innovation, and capacity building—especially for female journalists. He encouraged journalists to uphold ethical standards that strengthen democracy, while urging Orange Sierra Leone to continue supporting the safety and empowerment of women in the media.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Information and Civic Education Mr. Chernor Bah commended Orange Sierra Leone for its sustainable partnership with government and citizens. He highlighted the transformative impact of Orange Money in promoting financial inclusion, particularly in remote and island communities.

Mr. Bah noted that the platform has enabled safe and efficient transactions, fund transfers, and school fee payments, describing it as a critical driver of economic participation. He stressed that collaboration among the media, private sector, and government must remain reciprocal to drive national development.

The annual media engagement ended with renewed commitments to partnership, professionalism, and mutual respect between Orange Sierra Leone and the media fraternity.