By Foday Moriba Conteh
Some of the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) beneficiaries met with Indian High Commission officers and shared their experiences about courses pursued by them in India in 2023-24 and 2024-25. ITEC beneficiaries gathered in a large number at the Chancery premises of the High Commission, while sharing their experiences, overwhelmingly elaborated on how the courses under ITEC Programme have changed their skills, perceptions, careers and lives in a positive way.
Amara S. Janneh, working in Audit Service Sierra Leone, who has pursued ‘Receipt and Compliance Audit’ course at the International Centre for Information Systems and Audit (ICISA), Noida, mentioned that the course was comprehensive and has equipped him with new skills and knowledge in respect of receipt and compliance audit.
Mohamed A. Kamara, who is in Commerce and Mortgage Bank (SL), has completed ITEC course in Auditing in IT Environment. He shared that he is very impressed with the course material and hospitality and warm welcome received in ‘Incredible India.’
Ahmed Swaray, employed with the National Minerals Agency in Freetown, who has done his ITEC course on ‘Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing for Geo-Scientists’ at Geological Survey of India Training Institute, Hyderabad, mentioned with smiles that he gained diverse knowledge in remote sensing which is very helpful in discharging his day to day responsibilities in a professional manner.
Ms. Mariama Sam, Ms. Fatmata Sesay, Zainab J. Sesay and Gbassay F. Samura, employed in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sierra Leone Police, who have completed their courses on ‘International Public Health Management and Development Program’ at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Chandigarh, shared that during the course they learnt about leadership, benefits of Yoga for health and closely observed rich cultural heritage of India.
Imran Conteh, working in Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute, has completed ITEC course on ‘Project and Risk Management’ at Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management, and Ms. Soriatu Marie Dumbuya, employed with Ministry of Trade and Industry of Sierra Leone, did her course on ‘Women & Enterprises Development Trainers/Promoters Programme at the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development at Noida, while sharing their experiences, stated that they liked the professionalism, punctuality and passion of the world class faculties at the Institutes. They learnt about various opportunities in entrepreneurship and small businesses and new technologies which are helpful in risk management.
Francis Turay working with National Cybersecurity Coordination Center and Ms. Hawanatu Mansaray of Sierra Leone Police have undergone ITEC courses on ‘Entrepreneurship and Project Management’ at the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development at Noida and ‘Investigation on Economic Offences’ respectively, mentioned that they had great experiences not only in enriching their skills and personality development but also to observe the rich cultural heritage of India and warm hospitality of the Indian people.
All the ITEC beneficiaries were happy to share their experiences about their warm welcome and comfortable stay in India, professionalism of the world class faculties with advance approach, visits to various Institutes, historical monuments and introduction to India’s rich culture, food delicacies etc. All of them thanked the High Commission of India for providing them with the opportunity to undergo their courses in India.
On the occasion, Neeraj Kumar Saini, Cd’A a.i. in the Indian High Commission in Freetown informed the media persons 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.
The ITEC beneficiaries had also a close interaction with Dr. Ramji Vaidya from International Center for Cultural Studies and shared their various experiences of cultural richness of India, Yoga, Ayurveda etc. Dr. Ramji encouraged them to use their skills developed during ITEC courses in day to day life and share with their families and friends the good values observed by them in India.
India offers 50 ITEC slots every year to Sierra Leoneans 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, post-graduate and Phd. 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 450 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 in 2021. High Commission of India in Freetown has set up an ‘India Corner’ in the Library Building of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone in March 2024.
