Sierra Leone an expose

Sierra Leone, like many African countries, has a very young population coming of age during the Fourth Industrial Revolution: an era both defined by rapidly emerging new digital media and by complex global challenges, including climate change, migration and widening economic inequities. Advances in science, technology and innovation are shaping the world faster than many industries and governments can or know how to react. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and 3D Printing are some of the emerging technologies transforming the global economy, security and governance. These technologies, coupled with rapid automation, will create entirely new jobs while eliminating or significantly modifying many existing traditional sectors.

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, has developed a 10-year National Innovation and Digital Strategy (NIDS) (2019-2029) aimed at guiding Sierra Leone’s investments, policies, and governance frameworks for the country’s present and future development. NIDS situates Sierra Leone among regional and global leaders in the field of digital agile governance by focusing on effective service delivery, citizen engagement, and the digital economy driven by innovation and entrepreneurship. Such a transformation will reduce the cost of governance and reduce corruption while increasing national productivity.