During the launch of Orange-Sierra Leone’s Free Quality Education Projects, the Orange SL CEO Aminata Kane Ndiaye, spoke alongside the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the Minister of Information & Communication, the Director of DSTI. She gave her message to her audience on the importance of the launch.
Speaking to her audience, Aminata Kane encouraged partners and members of the Fourth Estate, to be supportive of Orange.
She said that the official launch of Orange Free Quality Education projects is designed to complement the government’s free quality education agenda in Sierra Leone.
She said: ‘You will recall that on the 20th of August 2018, the government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of HE President Julius Maada Bio, launched the free quality education as its flagship project for the benefit of all kids in Sierra Leone.’
She maintained that Orange being a responsible corporate institution operating in Sierra Leone and which prides itself in adhering to its corporate social responsibilities towards the country is the only telecommunications company to pledge its support to ensuring the success of the governments agenda.’
She went on to state that Orange has pledged to support the government with $1.5 million in material assistance over a period of five years.
‘In fulfilment of our pledge, we designed 5 projects in consultation with the Ministry of Basic & Senior Secondary Education and with our partners which we hope to launch and execute over a period of five years beginning this 2019.’
Aminata Kane added: ‘Today, we are delighted to invite you all to witness the launch of 3 out of the five projects which includes the following;
- Super Coder Academy- will provide introductory ICT training on basic coding for 100 Senior Secondary Schools. This will give the senior students an opportunity to learn gaming codes and creating game applications.
- Hygiene packs for girls –for this project, a total of 10,000 packs including reusable sanitary pads will be distributed to young girls in order to avoid school drop out every month, also, for them to know what basic items are to use for female hygiene and how to use them.
- Inter Secondary School Competition – this project will see the commencement an annual inter-secondary school competition for which Orange will build 5 fully furnished computer labs for the 5 winning schools over the period of 5
She went on to state that Orange hopes to launch and roll out the remaining two projects; namely Solar kits for school children and open classroom in 2020.
She said: ‘I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Hon. Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for his generosity in providing expert support and guidance to ensure the success of these projects. And I will also like to thank the Minister of Information and Communication for gracing this occasion and for his astute leadership in the telecommunication sector. And I give my special thanks to our implementing partners from UNICEF, STEM, ST Foundation, and Diamond Challenge for your courage and determination to ensure a successful rollout of these projects.
She conveyed her appreciation to the management and staff of the Ministry of Education and tom Orange, for their tireless and selfless efforts in making the launch reality; adding that without their professionalism, dedication and service, the day would not have come to fruition.
This is another milestone for Orange Sierra Leone as it continues with progress to be the best as a class operator and a major contributor to the well-being of Sierra Leoneans.
According to Kante, ‘At Orange we want not only a competitive advantage in the market, but we pride ourselves in giving back to society and Orange SL partakes extensively in corporate social investment, with our initiatives being a key pillar in the company’s role as a socioeconomic upholder.’
She added: ‘We remain committed to becoming a reliable partner for the development of ICT in Sierra Leone.’
Other speakers at the event included the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Alpha Osman Timbo, Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, UNICEF Rep. Dr. Hamid E. Bashir Ibrahim, ST Foundation Rep. Mohamed Dumbuya, Organization of African Youth, Ambassador Kalokoh, Teachers Service Commission Rep. Mrs. Scott, Chief Education Officer, Alhaji Mohamed Kamara among other speakers.
They all made similar sentiments geared towards the launch of the Orange projects and its benefit to pupils and students across Sierra Leone.
