Sierra Leone Partners with Agilix Labs to Forge AI-Powered Future in Education.

Strategic collaboration between Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and Agilix Labs is accelerating efforts to establish the AI-driven Future Learning Institute (FLI), a transformative initiative designed to democratize access to digital education nationwide. The partnership builds upon a landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed in the United Kingdom in May 2025, which outlines a framework where Agilix Labs supplies core technology, training, and operational expertise while MTHE establishes a local entity to host and manage the institute.

High-level discussions convened on March 23, 2026, brought together government officials and technology leaders to evaluate progress and chart the next phase of implementation. MTHE’s Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to the alliance, noting that recent pilot assessments in Kono District provided valuable insights into ground-level execution. He emphasized the importance of aligning institutional standards with regulatory frameworks to ensure proper accreditation, while also referencing prior UK-based deliberations that continue to inform the partnership’s trajectory.

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, articulated the government’s ambition to establish community learning centres across every district, creating hubs for both formal education and informal skill acquisition. Such centres, she explained, would offer flexible pathways for diverse learners—including those in the informal sector—while embedding assistive technologies to ensure full accessibility for persons with disabilities. Dr. Wurie further disclosed plans to showcase the initiative’s progress at the forthcoming Education World Forum in London, seeking to attract additional stakeholders and resources for scaling pilot projects.

Curt Allen, Founder and CEO of Agilix Labs, characterized Sierra Leone as an exceptional partner poised to become a global benchmark in digital learning innovation. Despite the company’s technology reaching over 150 countries, Allen noted the remarkable momentum and stakeholder commitment observed locally. He outlined a dual implementation strategy: a “bottom-up” approach focused on grassroots community learning centres, complemented by a “top-down” national framework to expand virtual learning across universities. The model, he added, is designed to reach learners with limited internet connectivity or relying solely on mobile devices.

Agilix Labs’ Director of International AI Programs, Mark Luetzelschwab, drew on successful international precedents, demonstrating how hybrid learning models—blending digital content with physical support centres—have enabled universities to expand enrolment from dozens to thousands in just a few years. By utilizing existing infrastructure and partnering with accredited institutions, such approaches minimize costly capital expenditures while safeguarding educational quality.

Deputy Minister Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara highlighted Sierra Leone’s pre-existing community-based learning structures as a foundation for expansion, though he noted the need to revisit the current MoU to address financial and regulatory dimensions as the programme scales. Director of Studies Mustapha A. Turay emphasized the transformative power of mobile-based learning, citing pilot programmes in underserved regions where young people successfully leveraged their devices for education and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Permanent Secretary Mohamed Sheick Kargbo raised concerns regarding internet accessibility in rural areas, prompting focused discussions on integrating offline learning capabilities within the platform—a critical consideration for ensuring equitable reach. Together, both sides underscored a shared vision: harnessing technology not merely as a tool, but as a foundational pillar for building an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready education system.

Correspondent-Richard Williams

Ministry of Technical and Higher Education

Tel:+23203086143