A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the governments of Nigeria and Sierra Leone to strengthen collaboration in the areas of cybersecurity, youth innovation, digital public infrastructure, digital trade, and technology transfer.
This partnership was sealed when Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, led a high-level delegation to Sierra Leone for the Nigeria–Sierra Leone Digital Economy Bilateral Trade Mission.
This engagement comes on the heels of Dr Tijani’s participation in the Regional Summit on Digital Transformation in the Republic of Benin, reinforcing Nigeria’s proactive leadership in shaping West Africa’s digital future.
The mission featured ecosystem hub tours, press engagements, technical sessions, and government-to-government deliberations hosted by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology & Innovation, Hon. Salima Monorma Bah.
Discussions focused on digital trade coordination, cybersecurity collaboration, skills development, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, reflecting the shared ambition of both nations to accelerate regional digital integration.
Following two days of bilateral engagements, both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening regional integration, expanding digital infrastructure, and building a more innovative, resilient, and inclusive West African economy.
Dr Tijani said that Nigeria remains fully committed to enabling a more harmonised, secured, and innovative digital region.
“Our partnership with Sierra Leone is not only a bilateral engagement; it is part of a broader vision to ensure that technology, talent, and trade flow seamlessly across our continent.”
“Together, we are laying the foundations for a digital economy that empowers our young people and creates shared prosperity.”
Hon. Salima Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology & Innovation, welcomed the cooperation, highlighting its potential to accelerate Sierra Leone’s digital transformation.
She stressed the need for both countries to build on their relationship and shared history towards accelerating the continent’s digital economy.
The mission’s emphasis on private-sector collaboration was further demonstrated by the participation of leading Nigerian technology companies, including IHS Towers, Flutterwave, CcHUB, Miden, Cybervergent, Prunedge, Itana, and Awarri, whose presence highlighted Nigeria’s depth of innovation capacity and commitment to fostering regional investment flows.
These companies engaged Sierra Leonean counterparts in structured B2B matchmaking sessions designed to stimulate cross-border partnerships, digital infrastructure development, and knowledge exchange.
The Nigerian delegation included agency heads from the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, including Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB); Dr. Olubunmi Ajala, National Coordinator of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR); and Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI).
Lateefah Ibrahim