President Bio Launches Excellence Skills Academy at Freetown Polytechnic.

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio officially inaugurated the new Excellence Skills Academy, a collaborative venture uniting Freetown Polytechnic, China Railway Seventh Group Co. Ltd., and Zhengzhou Railway Technician College.

Government leadership, development partners, and academic stakeholders gathered on the Polytechnic’s Jui campus for the launch January 27, 2026. The event highlighted a shared commitment to transforming technical education into direct economic opportunity for Sierra Leone’s youth.

President Bio praised the academy as a timely, practical solution for equipping young people with employable skills. “Education must move beyond certificates to hands-on competencies,” he stated. He framed education as a vital navigational tool for an increasingly complex world, reaffirming his government’s drive for “fit-for-purpose education” that delivers tangible benefits to families, communities, and the nation.

The President directly linked the initiative to his Human Capital Development Agenda and the Big Five Game Changers, which prioritize skills, innovation, and work readiness. With over 60% of the population under 35, he stressed that Sierra Leone’s economic future hinges on preparing this generation for productive work. He specifically commended China Railway Seventh Group for investing in local skills development instead of importing labour, calling it “policy translated into action.”

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, hailed the launch as “reform in action.” She underscored that the academy embodies the Ministry’s commitment to structured, demand-driven training aligned with labour market needs. “Strong public-private partnerships are central to our TVET reform agenda,” Dr. Wurie noted, “ensuring graduates possess skills that meet real industry standards.”

The tri-partite cooperation was celebrated as a breakthrough in bilateral relations by His Excellency Zhao Yong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sierra Leone. He described the model as a new chapter in educational ties and a perfect reflection of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. “This academy supports Sierra Leone’s development priorities and will become a flagship project of our cooperation,” Ambassador Zhao stated.

Du Xinguo, General Manager of China Railway Seventh Group in Sierra Leone, marked the launch as a new chapter in the company’s 18-year local presence. Reaffirming CRSG’s commitment to localisation and skills transfer, he declared that the first cohort of 40 trainees will be offered employment with the company upon successful graduation.

Principal of Zhengzhou Railway Technician College, Wu Wei, pledged to share nearly five decades of technical training expertise. “Skills development is critical to individual success and national growth,” he said, explaining that the programme uniquely blends institutional education, industry practice, and local needs.

Dr. Samba Moriba, Principal of the Freetown Polytechnic described the occasion as extraordinary as the President made his first visit since the institution’s founding. “This partnership proves our commitment to industry-relevant, hands-on training,” he said. “This new facility will empower us to produce truly skilled, employable graduates for national development.”

The ceremony culminated with President Bio unveiling the commemorative plaque, formally declaring the Excellence Skills Academy open a concrete step toward aligning education with economic ambition.

Correspondent-Richard Williams

Ministry of Technical and Higher Education

Tel: +23203086143