Africell, through the Africell Impact Foundation, has officially opened a Telemarketing Centre at the Milton Margai School for the Blind on Wilkinson Road in Freetown, creating new employment opportunities for persons with visual impairments.
The centre, which was unveiled on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, is designed to provide vocational and technical training while equipping visually impaired students with practical skills for sustainable employment and economic independence.
The initiative forms part of Africell’s broader commitment to promoting inclusion through long-term investments that empower persons with disabilities.
Speaking during a fireside chat at the launch, Dr. Fatu Taqi of Africell said the project represented a shift from charity to empowerment by creating meaningful employment opportunities for persons with visual impairments. She stressed that disability should never be regarded as inability, noting that with the right environment and opportunities, persons with disabilities can make valuable contributions to society. She urged employers to move beyond stereotypes and recognize the abilities and potential of persons with disabilities.
Maseray Brima Lavalie, Liaison Officer to the Presidential Adviser on Social Welfare and Inclusion, described inclusion as ensuring equal opportunities rather than charity. She said true inclusion requires removing barriers to education, employment and accessibility while creating environments where persons with disabilities can participate fully in national development.
She noted that the Government remains committed to strengthening inclusive policies and working with private sector partners to expand opportunities for persons with disabilities, adding that Africell’s initiative should serve as a model for other organizations.
Chief Executive Officer of Afrimoney, Martison Obeng Agyei, said the Telemarketing Centre was established to provide sustainable employment rather than temporary support. He said the project was inspired by the potential demonstrated by students of the Milton Margai School for the Blind and reflected Africell’s commitment to creating lasting social impact through meaningful opportunities.
He emphasized that inclusion begins with opportunity and called on employers to provide equal access to jobs, fair treatment and equal pay for persons with disabilities. Martison Obeng Agyei also reaffirmed Africell’s commitment to expanding its partnership with the school and encouraged other institutions to invest in programmes that promote inclusion and economic empowerment.
Principal of the Milton Margai School for the Blind, Sallieu Turay, described the Telemarketing Centre as a landmark achievement for the school and for disability inclusion in Sierra Leone. He said the initiative had created employment opportunities for 24 persons with disabilities, including students, graduates and vocational trainees, enabling them to earn a living and contribute to national development.
The Principal said the project demonstrated that blindness does not limit a person’s ability to succeed when provided with the necessary support. He described the centre as the first initiative of its kind in the country and expressed hope that it would inspire other organizations to invest in similar programmes that promote inclusive employment.
Representing the Minister of Social Welfare, Director John Conteh commended Africell and the Africell Impact Foundation for demonstrating corporate leadership through an initiative that promotes dignity, independence and economic participation for persons with disabilities.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities through access to education, skills development and employment, while calling on other private sector organizations to replicate Africell’s example.
The Telemarketing Centre is expected to provide professional training and employment opportunities for visually impaired persons, strengthening efforts to promote inclusive development and economic empowerment in Sierra Leone.
