WASCAL Ministerial Meeting in Conakry, Guinea, Culminates in a significant EndorsementDeputy Minister of Higher Education; Ambassador to Guinea; SL joins WASCAL.

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) is now a formal member of the WASCAL alliance. This momentous follows Sierra Leone’s ratification of the WASCAL agreement in parliament, championed by Minister Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie. The government’s assent promises enhanced access to grants for project funding, as well as opportunities for Masters and PhD programs for researchers and line ministries.

MTHE’s Deputy Minister, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, attended the meeting, which drew policymakers, researchers, and technical experts from across West Africa to deliberate strategies for confronting climate change, advancing sustainable land use, and strengthening environmental resilience. The assembly endorsed WASCAL’s strategic plan and underscored a long-term commitment to sustainability.

WASCAL stands as a premier, research-driven Climate Service Center connecting 14 West African nations. Its mission is to fortify science-based policy frameworks in the region’s fight against climate change.

The organization, headquartered in Accra with a Research Competence Center in Ouagadougou, operates at the nexus of government, academia, and development partners. Its mandate is to deliver reliable climate data, conduct cutting-edge research, and cultivate human and institutional capacity to inform adaptive and mitigative strategies. Sierra Leone’s recent full membership signals a reinvigorated national resolve to harness regional science for resilience.

Deputy Minister Aziz-Kamara underscored Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional partnerships and the application of advanced science to mitigate risks facing agriculture, water resources, energy systems, and coastal zones. He noted that climate change remains one of the greatest threats to sustainable development in Africa, and that active participation in WASCAL is essential for building national resilience and safeguarding future generations. “Sierra Leone recognizes the power of regional scientific cooperation in the climate change agenda,” he stated.

“Through WASCAL, we access world-class expertise, reliable climate data, and context-specific solutions aligned with our national development priorities.” He also applauded the re-election of Guinea’s Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation to a second term as Chair of the WASCAL Ministerial Council.

The meeting reviewed ongoing research projects, assessed capacity-building progress, and aligned member states on practical interventions to mitigate socio-economic vulnerabilities caused by climate variability. Special focus areas include climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, hydrology, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable natural-resource management. As Sierra Leone elevates science, technology, and innovation in higher education, the country’s engagement with WASCAL reinforces a commitment to regional collaboration, research excellence, and evidence-based policymaking.

MTHE’s engagement with ECOWAS on strengthening technical and higher education

On 30 September 2025, MTHE convened a high-level meeting with ECOWAS to explore avenues for bridging gaps in Sierra Leone’s education sector and advancing regional development goals. The event occurred in the MTHE Conference Room, New England Ville, Sababu Building. Deputy Minister Aziz-Kamara reaffirmed the government’s dedication to human capital development, highlighting the establishment of Kono University of Science and Technology (KUST) as a landmark initiative. He urged ECOWAS’s support to realize the project and highlighted ongoing efforts to expand TVET, promote gender inclusion, and upgrade technical institutes into community colleges.

ECOWAS’s Dr. Robert Moikowa, Acting Head of the ECOWAS National Office in Sierra Leone, explained that he was accompanied by a planning team to review the Medium-Term Strategic Plan (2023–2027) as part of ECOWAS Vision 2050. The review seeks to engage stakeholders, track progress, and refine implementation strategies.

Mr. Gbogboto Musa, Director of Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the ECOWAS Commission, noted that the five-year phases of Vision 2050 began in 2023 and identified five pillars: peace and security, governance, economic integration, connectivity, and social inclusion. External consultants were engaged to ensure objective assessments across member states.

Institutional Consultant Dr. Jonathan Sandy emphasized that the mid-term review centers on both policy design and execution, emphasizing accountability and results. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s role in human capital development and social inclusion while drawing lessons from ongoing projects. MTHE’s Director of TVET, Abdul Senesie, voiced concerns about the implications of ECOWAS’s proposed single currency for weaker economies and urged stronger regional cooperation on skills development and qualification frameworks.

Sia Fasuluku, Acting Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, stressed the need to tether education to industry to mitigate graduate unemployment and called for ECOWAS’s support to strengthen Sierra Leone’s TVET sector and accelerate the construction of Kono University.

ECOWAS’s Resident Representative, Mr. John Azumah, underscored the coordinating role of the ECOWAS National Office and urged deeper collaboration with ministries and institutions. He reminded Sierra Leone of its current chairmanship responsibility to champion the review process and pledged ECOWAS’s continued support for key educational projects.

In sum, these engagements reflect a shared commitment to elevate Sierra Leone’s technical and higher education landscape through regional collaboration, evidence-based policymaking, and sustainable development. The dialogues with WASCAL and ECOWAS illustrate a forward-looking vision: to weave science, education, and policy into resilient national growth that serves the present and protects future generations.

Correspondent-Richard Williams

Email: rw327542611@gmail.com 

Tel: +23203086143