Accelerating Sierra Leone’s Digital Transformation.Seventy young women have been certified as digital professionals under the Orange Foundation Women’s Digital Centre programme on Friday, 11 February 2026, marking a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s drive to close the gender gap in technology and strengthen its digital economy.The graduation ceremony, held at the Orange Digital Centre in Freetown, brought together senior government officials, corporate leaders, development partners, and families to celebrate the fifth cohort of the six month initiative.In her remarks, the Director of Orange Foundation, Mrs. Annie Wonnie Katta, stated that since the launch of the programme in 2021, Orange Foundation has trained more than 700 women across Freetown, Bo, and Kenema, with over 600 graduates now entering the workforce equipped with practical digital and entrepreneurship skills.She added that participants completed intensive training in computer applications, internet fundamentals, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, business management, and online brand development.She further noted that the recent advanced cohorts have also received training in web development, 3D design, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.Orange Sierra Leone CEO, Aicha Toure, underscored the urgency of expanding digital inclusion, noting that only 5.7 percent of women in Sierra Leone are online compared to 11.4 percent of men. She described the graduates as proof that targeted investment in women’s digital skills can drive inclusive economic growth and position women as creators, not just consumers, of technology.Minister of Youth, Ibrahim Sannoh, reaffirmed government support for the initiative and announced plans to pursue formal accreditation of the programme through the National Council for Technical, Vocational and Academic Awards. He also challenged graduates to launch digital enterprises, pledging ministerial recognition for early stage innovators.National Youth Commission Commissioner, Joseph Maada Lahai, emphasized that the programme aligns with the country’s Mid Term National Development Plan, which prioritizes technology and human capital development. He committed to supporting graduates through mentorship, internships, market access, and financing pathways.Education officials highlighted broader policy reforms, including the establishment of technical universities offering Bachelor of Science degrees in technical fields, the development of a national cybersecurity curriculum, and the introduction of Sierra Leone’s first micro credential framework to formally recognize short course certifications.Graduates and alumni shared testimonials of personal transformation, citing improved employability, income generation, and community impact.Student representative Judith Ansu described the Digital Centre as “a gateway for ambition, confidence, and leadership,” reinforcing the programme’s role in advancing gender equality and national development.As Orange Foundation and government partners deepen collaboration, the Women’s Digital Centre initiative stands as a scalable model for bridging the gender digital divide and building a more inclusive, innovation driven future for Sierra Leone.