Orange Foundation Sierra Leone last Friday certified 150 young people who have completed intensive digital skills training at the Orange Digital Centre (ODC). The 2025 Certification and Demo Day highlighted the centre’s expanding role in strengthening digital inclusion and nurturing Sierra Leone’s emerging tech talent.
The training equipped participants with a diverse set of skills, including frontend web development, 3D designs and printing, entrepreneurship for start-ups, office administration, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, business development, and specialized courses tailored for persons with disabilities.
Orange Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Sekou Amadou Bah, described the event as a major milestone in the company’s commitment to innovation and youth empowerment. He noted that the past five months have seen significant growth, including expanded facilities and increased nationwide reach.
Bah said the revamped Digital Centre now serves as a modern innovation hub, offering young people the space and resources to explore emerging technologies. This year’s programmes included front-end development, two cohorts of office assistance courses, the ODC NextGen Summer Camp, and three Coursera-supported online learning tracks. Specialized programmes for women and girls were also introduced to advance gender equality in the country’s digital ecosystem.
According to the CEO, the ODC’s impact continues to rise, with over 6,000 youths trained since its inception, 2,000 of them women and girls. To date, more than 600 beneficiaries have gained employment or secured placements through the programme.
Addressing the graduates, Bah praised their resilience and encouraged them to apply their new skills to support public service delivery, strengthen small business digitalization, develop youth-focused solutions, and promote digital literacy among marginalized groups.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Social Welfare Melrose Karmity praised Orange for its consistent support to national development and digital inclusion. She conveyed appreciation from the president and the people of Sierra Leone for Orange’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its contributions to the ‘Big Five Game Changers,’ a key pillar of the country’s national development plan.
The minister commended the Foundation’s inclusive approach, noting the participation of several persons with disabilities, whom she referred to as individuals with special abilities. She described the moment as meaningful and aligned with the government’s vision of inclusive governance.
“These certificates are not just documents; they are empowerment tools,” she said, while urging graduates to use their skills to impact their communities and the broader digital economy. She further highlighted the importance of embracing digital innovation, referencing global insights from the Second World Summit on Social Development in Qatar.
Graduate representative Mabel Boima delivered the vote of thanks, expressing deep gratitude to the Orange Foundation for enabling them to unlock their potential. She pledged that the knowledge and skills acquired through the ODC would be used to foster positive societal change.
The Orange Digital Centre continues to serve as a fully integrated ecosystem designed to train, empower, and support young technology enthusiasts and start-ups across Sierra Leone.
