The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI), collaboration with one of the leading partners “UNICEF” has organized the 2025 National Innovation and Digital summit, at the Bintumani Hotel west of Freetown.
The summit brought together government officials, private sector stakeholders, youth innovators, and international partners to explore pathways for a smarter, more inclusive digital future. The Sierra Leone Innovates Summit 2025 marks a milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey, celebrating five years of progress under the National Innovation and Digital Strategy (NIDS).
The summit will bring together policymakers, tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to discuss the future of digital governance and economic growth. It all started with a plenary session under the philosophy “Digitization for All,” setting a bold vision for inclusive and accessible digital services across Sierra Leone. This session will include, cultural performance, fireside Chat with H.E. President Bio on ‘The role of leadership to accelerate the government’s Digital Transformation Agenda’ and showcase of the government’s Digital Transformation Journey.
UNICEF Country Deputy Representative in Sierra Leone Liv Elin Indreiten, said the gathering is a testament to what can be achieved when there is unity around a shared vision for progress. She said digital summit will bring extraordinary global change. She noted that technological innovation is advancing rapidly, transforming economies, societies, and the lives of children and people worldwide.
She added that there is a need to reflect on how the country have gone since the last summit and how much further they have truly bridge the digital divide and improve connectivity for all.
She stated that UNICEF co-creates to discover, iterate, and scale innovative solutions for every child, everywhere and bring together governments, communities, innovators, and partners to accelerate results, especially for the most vulnerable children and young people.
She said innovation can unlock new opportunities and the summit is just the beginning noting that the challenge is to ensure these technologies serve as equalizers, not dividers.
She calls for acknowledgment of the broader context, across the continent, declining international aid and rising debt burdens are creating a child rights emergency.
She pointed out that fiscal constraints limit resources for social services, education, and digital infrastructure, making equitable access to technology more critical than ever. She said innovation is essential not only for progress but to overcome these challenges and by harnessing emerging technologies and scalable solutions, we can extend limited resources and ensure no child or person is left behind. “ UNICEF, we believe emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence and digital public goods—can bridge, rather than widen, the digital divide. Equity must be central to our innovative efforts” she added.
She said reaching the most marginalized, including girls, children in rural and remote areas, and children and youth with disabilities, empowering young people to be creators of solutions, not just recipients and scaling what works—sustainably and inclusively—so no child is left behind.
She recalled that in Sierra Leone, we are co-creating with young innovators from Freetown to Kenema to Makeni to Falaba—developing inclusive learning tools, locally led digital platforms, and community solutions tailored to local needs. She said initiatives like GIGA, in partnership with MoCTI and DSTI, are connecting hundreds of schools to the internet. At the same time, low-tech and offline innovations like the EduCube, and the Digital Learning Hub-in-a-Bag ensure access isn’t limited by geography or infrastructure.
