Africell Sierra Leone has strengthened its commitment to digital innovation and youth empowerment through a landmark partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Sierra Leone to establish UniPod Sierra Leone, an innovation hub dedicated to nurturing young entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers.
The facility was officially launched on 9 July 2026 at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone, Mount Aureol. Designed to support innovation and entrepreneurship, the centre will provide young Sierra Leoneans with access to modern technology, mentorship, business incubation services and digital tools to transform creative ideas into commercially viable solutions capable of addressing national development challenges.
Launching the facility, Chief Minister, Dr David Sengeh, described UniPod as more than a physical structure, saying it represents a new mindset centred on innovation, collaboration and problem-solving. He noted that Sierra Leone already possesses talented young people and enabling policies for technological advancement, stressing that the country’s priority should now be accelerating the practical application of these opportunities.
Dr. David Sengeh encouraged students, researchers and entrepreneurs to fully utilize the facility while emphasizing that innovation should remain inclusive and accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities.
The UniPod initiative was made possible through the collaboration of the Government of Sierra Leone, UNDP, the University of Sierra Leone and Africell Sierra Leone, highlighting the telecommunications company’s continued investment in education, digital transformation and youth entrepreneurship.
Representing Africell Chief Executive Officer, Shadi Gerjawi, Afrimoney Chief Executive Officer Martison Obeng-Agyei reaffirmed Africell’s commitment to helping young Sierra Leoneans unlock their potential through technology and innovation.
He announced that Africell will provide students with Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled identification cards, allowing seamless digital access to the UniPod Centre. He also disclosed plans to expand high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity across sections of Fourah Bay College to create a stronger digital environment for learning, research and innovation.
Martison Obeng-Agyei urged students to maximize the opportunities offered by the centre, describing it as a platform where creativity can be transformed into practical solutions and sustainable businesses. He maintained that investing in young people and technology is essential to Sierra Leone’s future economic growth and digital transformation.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, commended UNDP, Africell and the University of Sierra Leone for their partnership in delivering the project. She said the initiative supports the Government’s Human Capital Development agenda by creating opportunities for students and researchers to apply academic knowledge to solving real societal challenges.
She further stated that universities should increasingly become centres of innovation where ideas are developed, tested and transformed into products and services that contribute to national development. She also called for similar innovation hubs to be established across the country to expand opportunities for young people.
UNDP Resident Representative Fredrick Ampiah described the launch as a significant step in strengthening Sierra Leone’s innovation ecosystem. He said economic competitiveness today depends not only on natural resources but also on the ability of young people to develop innovative solutions to local challenges.
According to him, the UniPod will provide training in digital skills, entrepreneurship, content creation and technology development while supporting innovators to build businesses capable of creating employment opportunities.
Deputy Vice Chancellor of Fourah Bay College, Professor Andrew Baio, described UniPod as a national innovation platform rather than simply a university facility. He said the centre is open to innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs from across Sierra Leone, providing opportunities to design, prototype and develop solutions to real-world problems.
Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Bah said the facility strengthens Sierra Leone’s growing innovation ecosystem and encouraged greater collaboration between UniPod and other innovation hubs nationwide. She also emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property generated through innovations developed at the centre.
The UniPod Sierra Leone is equipped with maker spaces, digital fabrication and prototyping laboratories, business incubation services, mentorship programmes and technology transfer facilities designed to help young innovators transform ideas into viable enterprises.
The launch concluded with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, a guided tour of the facility and exhibitions showcasing innovations developed by Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs, marking another milestone in the country’s efforts to promote digital innovation through collaboration between Government, development partners, academia and the private sector, with Africell playing a leading role in supporting the initiative.
