By Millicent Senava Mannah
Shadi Gerjawi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africell Sierra Leone, took center stage at the Salone Civic Festival 2024, held at the Youyi Building on December 12, 2024. Participating in a panel discussion moderated by, Mohamed Jaward Nyallay, of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Shadi Gerjawi shared valuable insights on the transformative role of technology, innovation and infrastructure in driving national development.
During his address, Shadi Gerjawi highlighted the revolutionary impact of Africell’s Afrimoney platform on financial inclusion in Sierra Leone. He explained that Afrimoney has drastically reduced the time required to complete financial transactions. “When we talk about financial inclusion, we have reduced the process from three hours to just one minute,” he stated. “In the past, making a payment or cashing a cheque required a trip to the bank, often resulting in long waits and high transportation costs. Now, with our initiatives, these transactions can be completed from the comfort of your homes.”
The festival featured a distinguished lineup of speakers and panelists, including Salima Monorna Bah, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Hawa Kone and Dennis Sandy. Together, they engaged in a rich dialogue on crucial issues impacting the nation, with a special focus on technology, education and gender inclusion.
Expanding on Africell’s role in driving technological progress, Shadi Gerjawi emphasized the unseen efforts that fuel the company’s innovative products. He noted that while the public sees the “bright lights and bright colors” of Africell’s services, they are often unaware of the extensive investment, design work and problem-solving that happen behind the scenes. “Just like a tree where the roots go deep underground, much of our work is hidden from public view,” he explained, using the tree analogy to illustrate the hidden complexities that support visible successes.
The CEO also highlighted Africell’s commitment to education, particularly in providing support to schools, with a focus on bridging the technological divide between institutions. He acknowledged that while some schools in Freetown and parts of the provinces have access to computing resources, many others still lack such facilities. This disparity, he noted, underscores Africell’s resolve to level the playing field for all learners.
In a nod to gender equity, Shadi Gerjawi addressed the underrepresentation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers. He acknowledged the ongoing challenges in recruiting female engineers for Africell’s technical department. “We’ve been actively trying to get more female engineers into our technical department, but it has been one of the most difficult tasks,” he admitted. Despite the high number of women graduating as engineers, many opt for careers in other fields.
When asked to offer advice to young people interested in the tech sector, Shadi Gerjawi chose to address a broader issue. He stressed the importance of adopting and supporting local technological solutions. “At Africell, ten years ago, we made the decision to venture with local entrepreneurs who were developing systems here in Sierra Leone rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions from abroad,” he said. Although importing systems may have been cheaper, Africell’s decision to invest locally has proven to be a sustainable and impactful strategy.
As Africell continues to lead in the telecommunications sector, its initiatives like Afrimoney and its support for local innovation demonstrate the company’s people-centered approach. By fostering financial inclusion, promoting educational support and championing gender equity in STEM, Africell is helping to shape a more connected, inclusive and technologically advanced Sierra Leone.
