Africell Sierra Leone has reinforced its commitment to advancing digital innovation and youth empowerment through its partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Sierra Leone in the establishment of UniPod Sierra Leone, an innovation hub aimed at nurturing young entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers.
Officially launched on 9 July 2026 at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Mount Aureol, the facility is designed to provide young Sierra Leoneans with the tools, technology and mentorship needed to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable solutions capable of addressing national development challenges.
Launching the facility, Chief Minister Dr David Sengeh described the UniPod as more than a physical structure, saying it represents a new way of thinking about innovation, collaboration and problem solving. He said Sierra Leone already possesses the talent and enabling policies needed for technological advancement, adding that the country must now focus on accelerating the use of these opportunities to create practical solutions.
He urged students, researchers and entrepreneurs to maximise the opportunities provided by the hub while stressing that innovation should remain inclusive and accessible to all, including persons with disabilities.
The UniPod initiative was made possible through a partnership involving the Government of Sierra Leone, UNDP, the University of Sierra Leone and Africell Sierra Leone, whose investment demonstrates the company’s continued support for education, digital transformation and youth entrepreneurship.
Representing Africell Chief Executive Officer Shadi Gerjawi, Chief Executive Officer of Afrimoney, Martison Obeng-Agyei, reaffirmed Africell’s commitment to helping young Sierra Leoneans unlock their potential through technology and innovation.
He announced that Africell will provide students with Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled identification cards that will allow seamless digital access to the UniPod Centre. He also disclosed plans by the company to expand high speed Wi-Fi connectivity across sections of Fourah Bay College, creating a stronger digital environment for learning, research and innovation.
Obeng-Agyei encouraged students to take full advantage of the facility, describing it as a platform where creativity can be transformed into practical solutions and sustainable businesses. He said Africell believes investing in young people and technology is essential to Sierra Leone’s future economic growth and digital transformation.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, commended UNDP, Africell and the University of Sierra Leone for their collaboration in making the project a reality. She said the initiative supports the Government’s human capital development agenda by creating opportunities for students and researchers to apply knowledge in solving real societal challenges.
She added that universities should increasingly become centres of innovation where ideas are developed, tested and transformed into products and services capable of contributing to national development. She also called for similar innovation centres to be established across the country to ensure wider access for young people.
UNDP Resident Representative Fredrick Ampiah described the launch as evidence of the growing importance of innovation and creativity in driving economic development. He said today’s global competitiveness depends not only on natural resources but also on the ability of young people to develop solutions that respond to local challenges.
He explained that the UniPod will provide training in digital skills, entrepreneurship, content creation and technology development while supporting young innovators to build businesses capable of creating employment opportunities.
Deputy Vice Chancellor of Fourah Bay College, Professor Andrew Baio, described the UniPod as a national innovation platform rather than simply a university facility. He said the centre is open to innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs from across Sierra Leone, providing opportunities to design, prototype and develop solutions to real world problems.
Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Bah said the facility strengthens Sierra Leone’s growing innovation ecosystem and encouraged collaboration between the UniPod and other innovation hubs nationwide. She also stressed the need to protect intellectual property generated through innovations developed at the centre.
The UniPod Sierra Leone is equipped with maker spaces, digital fabrication and prototyping laboratories, business incubation services, mentorship programmes and technology transfer facilities to help young innovators transform ideas into viable enterprises.
The launch concluded with the official ribbon cutting, a guided tour of the facility and exhibitions showcasing innovations developed by Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs, marking another milestone in the country’s efforts to promote digital innovation through strong collaboration between government, development partners and the private sector, with Africell playing a central role in supporting the initiative.