On Thursday, 23rd February 2023, some of the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) beneficiaries gathered at Indian High Commission in Freetown and shared their experiences about courses pursued by them in India in 2022-23. Five ITEC beneficiaries, while sharing their experiences, overwhelmingly elaborated on how the ITEC Programme has changed their skills, perceptions, careers and lives in a positive way.
Ms. Rebecca Fofanah, working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who has returned from India after pursuing ‘Certificate Program in Advanced Communication Skills’, mentioned that the course has improved her Communication Skills to the next level. Mr Lynton O.R.D. Jones Esq, who is Parliamentary Counsel and Legislative Drafter at the Office of Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has pursued ‘Specialized International Training Programme in Legislative Drafting’ organized by Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), New Delhi, expressed that the programme was a fascinating capacity building course which provides participants with institutionalized opportunities for systematic training in the various disciplines of Law-making processes and procedures.
Another ITEC beneficiary, Ms. Abibatu Sheriff, working with World Vision Sierra Leone, shared her experience about one month training course on ‘Post Cocoon Technology’ at Central Silk Technological Research Institute, Central Silk Board, Bengaluru (India). She overwhelmingly expressed that during her training she could learn practical aspects of Post Cocoon Technology, which she wants to use in setting up a small silk venture in Sierra Leone. Mr. Ibrahim Wilson Kanneh from National Electoral Commission (NEC) and Mr. Ibrahim Bobson Moiwo, Senior Public Health Superintendent at Ministry of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone shared their views and positive impacts on their skill development after pursing ITEC courses on ‘Specialized Training Programme in Cyber Security & Malware Analytics Reverse Engineering’ and ‘Women and Youth Entrepreneurship in Water Supply and Sanitation Development’ respectively. All the ITEC beneficiaries were joyous to share their experiences about their warm welcome and comfortable stay in India, their visits to various Institutes, historical monuments and introduction to India’s rich culture, food delicacies etc.
On the occasion, Mr. Neeraj Kumar Saini, Cd’A in Indian High Commission in Freetown informed the media that the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) is a Government of India’s flagship programme instituted on September 15, 1964, and has been a vehicle to share India’s vast and unique experience of growth and development through capacity building and training in a wide and diverse spectrum of skills. ITEC programme has created visible and growing awareness about the competence of India as provider of technical knowledge and expertise as well as training opportunities, and much more. India offers 50 ITEC slots every year to Sierra Leonean for short, medium and long-term capacity building programmes. Selected ITEC beneficiaries are provided to and fro air-tickets and boarding and lodging by Government of India to pursue these courses in India.
In addition to 50 ITEC slots, India also provides 15 full ICCR scholarships to Sierra Leone for under-graduate and post-graduate courses in India.
Sierra Leone is also one of the beneficiaries of scholarships under India’s e-VidyaBharati or tele-education programme for online under-graduate and post-graduate courses being offered by various reputed Universities in India. So far, more than 300 students from Sierra Leone have enrolled/pursuing/completed various courses. For such students, a Learning Centre at Fourah Bay College, consisting of a Computer Lab & Multimedia Room has been established by the Government of India.
