By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
A groundbreaking initiative is set to reshape the educational experience for girls in Sierra Leone as Olive Academy Boarding School for Girls prepares to welcome its inaugural batch of students this September, 2025, in Kerry Town. Founded by Olive Favour Baimba and her husband, the Academy represents a bold vision for safe, holistic and future-forward education, with a special emphasis on STEM learning and personal development.
Entirely funded by the Baimbas, the Olive Academy is a purpose-built institution designed to empower young girls, including those living with disabilities, in a secure, inclusive and academically rigorous environment. The school, meant to accommodate up to 750 students, will offer a full boarding experience and world-class facilities aimed at fostering both academic excellence and life skills.
Among the key features are a fully equipped library, state-of-the-art science laboratories, a smart classroom, computer labs and 14 staff quarters designed to house teaching personnel. Students will also benefit from a mini sports center that includes basketball and volleyball courts, as well as agricultural spaces where they will grow their own food; a hands-on approach to learning that sets the school apart.
“In the next two, three years, our kids are actually going to be eating the food that they grow themselves,” Olive Favour Baimba said, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to practical, real-world learning.
Each apartment in the academy comes fitted with showers and the layout carefully separates pupil and staff accommodations, including distinct restroom paths for male and female teachers, ensuring privacy and comfort for all.
Another standout feature of Olive Academy is its sustainability model. In a region where access to reliable electricity remains a challenge, the Academy will be powered entirely by solar energy. That move not only promotes environmental responsibility but ensures uninterrupted learning and operation throughout the year.
Safety is also a major priority. The academy has implemented robust security protocols including trained personnel and surveillance systems to maintain a protected and peaceful atmosphere. Health services will be readily available through on-campus clinics staffed by professional nurses and dedicated blocks will accommodate school matrons responsible for pupil welfare.
Though Olive Academy will begin by admitting pupils in JSS1 and JSS2, expansion plans are already underway to include both elementary and high school levels. According to the founders, this long-term strategy is aimed at building strong academic foundations and preparing pupils to excel in national and international examinations.
In terms of staffing, the school is conducting a rigorous recruitment process to ensure it attracts qualified and passionate educators who align with the school’s high standards and core values. These values, especially respect and integrity, are central to the Academy’s philosophy. “Those are the two things money cannot buy,” Olive Favour Baimba stated firmly.
Rather than positioning itself as a competitor to existing institutions, Olive Academy aims to collaborate with schools across Sierra Leone in a collective effort to revive the country’s legacy as a center of academic excellence in West Africa.
“It’s a beautiful thing to actually see it happening,” Olive Favour Baimba concluded. “We’re creating a safe, nurturing space for the girl child, including those with disabilities. This is a dream come true and we’re doing it not just for ourselves, but for Sierra Leone.”
As the countdown begins to its official opening, Olive Academy Boarding School for Girls stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity; one that promises to uplift generations of young women and contribute meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s educational advancement.
