By Foday Moriba Conteh
The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Aïcha Touré, has embarked on a series of high-level courtesy visits to major state institutions, reinforcing the company’s commitment to national development, digital inclusion and sustained public–private collaboration in Sierra Leone.
The stakeholder engagements form part of Madam Aïcha Touré’s early leadership priorities, aimed at strengthening institutional relationships while aligning Orange Sierra Leone’s corporate strategy with the country’s development agenda. Central to those engagements is the shared objective of expanding access to reliable telecommunications and digital services as enablers of good governance, education and socio-economic growth.
As part of the outreach, the Orange Sierra Leone CEO paid a courtesy call on the Parliament of Sierra Leone, where she was received by the Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas at the Parliament Building in Freetown. Discussions focused on strengthening institutional collaboration and exploring opportunities to enhance communication systems that support parliamentary work and national governance.
Commending Orange Sierra Leone for its sustained investment in the telecommunications sector, the Speaker described the company’s contributions as significant and impactful. He assured Madam Aïcha Touré of Parliament’s readiness to collaborate with the private sector in promoting improved connectivity nationwide and encouraged her to embrace Sierra Leone’s peace, hospitality and rich cultural heritage as she settles into her role.
In response, Madam Aïcha Touré reaffirmed Orange Sierra Leone’s readiness to work closely with Parliament and other public institutions to deliver reliable, innovativ, and inclusive digital solutions. She underscored the importance of effective public–private partnerships in accelerating sustainable development and improving the quality of life for citizens.
In a related engagement, the Orange Sierra Leone CEO paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, where she was warmly received by the Minister, Chernor Bah, at the Youyi Building in Freetown. The Minister congratulated Madam Aïcha Touré on her appointment and encouraged her to consider Sierra Leone her home, assuring her of the Ministry’s full support. He emphasized the Ministry’s openness to sustained engagement with Orange Sierra Leone, noting that the company’s growth and success directly contribute to national development outcomes.
Madam Aïcha Touré expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reiterated her commitment to serving Sierra Leone through innovation, partnership and responsible corporate citizenship. She highlighted Orange’s focus on digital transformation as a catalyst for inclusive growth and effective civic engagement.
Further engagements with the Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education underscored Orange Sierra Leone’s expanding role in supporting human capital development. Ministers Ramatulai Wuire and Conrad Sacky commended the company’s long-standing partnership with the education sector, particularly the contributions of the Orange Foundation.
Commendations were extended for the Foundation’s support to early childhood education, including the construction of six Early Childhood Development schools, as well as initiatives promoting digital literacy. With more than 3.4 million students in schools requiring increased digital exposure, stakeholders welcomed Orange’s back-to-school promotions and education-focused digital inclusion programmes.
The Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education also praised Orange’s support for women and girls through the Foundation’s Women Digital Centers, which continue to empower young women with essential digital skills.
Collectively, the courtesy visits signal Madam Aïcha Touré’s broader strategy of engaging key stakeholders to better understand Sierra Leone’s development priorities while strengthening partnerships that promote good governance, digital transformation and inclusive growth. Both Parliament and the Ministries expressed optimism that the renewed collaboration with Orange Sierra Leone will deliver lasting benefits for the country and its people.
