Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini, Charge d’Affaires a.i. at the High Commission of India in Freetown, has reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening education, skills development and human capital cooperation with Sierra Leone.
He made the commitment while addressing the fifth annual Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship ceremony, held on Friday, 28 August 2026, at the Sierra Palms Resort in Freetown.
The programme, organized by Shri Gurdwara Sahib SL Ltd. in collaboration with the Indian Diaspora in Sierra Leone, awarded scholarships to 350 needy and academically promising pupils from schools across the country.
The Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship provides beneficiaries with full educational support for the 2026/2027 academic year. Each pupil received school materials, including a bag and exercise books, together with Le500 in financial assistance.
Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini congratulated Shri Gurdwara Sahib, Lumley, and members of the Indian community for sustaining an initiative that uses education to improve the lives of vulnerable children.
He described the ceremony as more than the presentation of scholarships, saying it represented compassion, equality and service to humanity; values promoted by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
According to the Indian diplomat, Guru Nanak’s principles of praying, working honestly and sharing with others continue to inspire millions worldwide. He said the teaching of “Sarbat da Bhala,” meaning the welfare of all, was particularly relevant to efforts aimed at investing in the future of young Sierra Leoneans.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini encouraged them to regard the scholarship not only as financial assistance but also as motivation to pursue their ambitions with greater confidence and determination.
He told the pupils that they could become Sierra Leone’s future doctors, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, public servants and national leaders if they remain committed to their education.
“Continue to work hard, shine in your academics and grow as responsible human beings,” Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini urged the recipients, expressing hope that some of them would eventually secure fully funded scholarships to study in India.
The Charge d’Affaires said India and Sierra Leone share a warm and enduring friendship built on mutual respect, democratic values, South-South cooperation and common development aspirations.
He noted that capacity building remains one of the strongest pillars of the bilateral relationship, with India regarding human resource development as one of the most sustainable forms of development assistance.
Through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, Sierra Leonean public officials continue to receive fully funded professional training in India. The areas covered include information technology, public administration, banking, agriculture, renewable energy, election management, healthcare, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship.
Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini disclosed that hundreds of Sierra Leonean professionals had benefited from the programme over the years and returned home with additional knowledge and skills to support national development.
He also announced that 50 Sierra Leonean students had been awarded Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarships in 2026 to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes at Indian institutions.
According to him, the students will not only acquire higher education but also serve as lasting bridges of friendship between India and Sierra Leone.
Beyond scholarships and professional training, Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini highlighted India’s development interventions in healthcare, agriculture, food security, infrastructure and disability inclusion.
He said India provided 15 haemodialysis machines to Sierra Leone on a grant basis in March 2026 to help meet the treatment needs of people living with kidney-related illnesses.
India also supplied 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to support Sierra Leone’s school-feeding programme, demonstrating its commitment to food security and the welfare of schoolchildren.
Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini further referenced a US$990,000 grant extended by India in 2025 under the Commonwealth Window of the India–United Nations Development Partnership Fund. The grant supports a project aimed at empowering persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone through housing and skills-training opportunities.
On higher education, he announced that India is extending a US$32 million line of credit through the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development for the construction of the University of Science and Technology in Koidu, Kono District.
He said construction of the university is expected to begin soon and expressed optimism that some beneficiaries of the Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship would one day pursue technical and scientific education at the institution.
Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini also praised the Indian community for its contributions to Sierra Leone’s economy and social development through business, healthcare, education, manufacturing and philanthropy.
Although relatively small in number, he said, members of the Indian Diaspora had earned respect and become an integral part of Sierra Leonean society. He described the Baba Guru Nanak Scholarship as a strong example of the community’s determination to give back to the country that had welcomed it for generations.
The diplomat commended Mohinder Bir Singh Sachdeva, Chief Sevadar of Shri Gurdwara Sahib, Lumley and Honorary Consul of Côte d’Ivoire, alongside the donors, volunteers and organizers who made the scholarship programme possible.
He maintained that education remains one of the greatest gifts society can offer a child because it creates opportunities that can last a lifetime.
Shri Neeraj Kumar Saini concluded by assuring the gathering that the High Commission of India would continue working with the Government of Sierra Leone to broaden cooperation in education, healthcare, digital innovation, renewable energy, skills development, trade and investment.
