Freetown, Sierra Leone – Yesterday, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), in partnership with UNICEF, the United Nations University, and Limkokwing University, hosted the country’s first Digital Public Goods (DPG) in Academia End-of-Semester Exhibition at Limkokwing University’s Innovation Hub, marking a milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey as a co-founder of the Digital Public Goods Alliance.
Eleven student-built digital solutions were presented at the event, targeting pressing challenges across education, healthcare, governance, and environmental sustainability — a direct outcome of Sierra Leone’s first DPG curriculum developed through the partnership. The programme has introduced students to open-source development principles, equipping them to build technologies designed around accessibility, reuse, and public benefit.
The exhibition served as both a showcase and a gateway: select projects will now advance to the national DPG Pipeline for assessment against the rigorous, internationally recognised DPG Standard.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Miriam Conteh-Morgan, Vice Chancellor & Principal of Limkokwing University, expressed gratitude for the institution’s selection as the pilot partner: “I am pleased that this institution was selected to be a partner for this pilot initiative. This translates to the level of confidence the Ministry has entrusted in us.”
Dr. Abdulai Sankoh, Director of Technology at the Ministry of Communications, Technology and Innovation, underscored the initiative’s strategic importance: “The DPG in Academia initiative demonstrates our shared commitment to enable digital public goods and open source principles in higher education. It provides students with the skills to develop secure, scalable, and reusable solutions that address national challenges.”
Liv Elin Indreiten, Deputy Representative for Programmes at UNICEF Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the agency’s support: “UNICEF is proud to support this government-led initiative because it aligns with our commitment to inclusive, child-centred digital transformation.”
The exhibition reinforces Sierra Leone’s role as a founding member of the DPGA, alongside Norway, UNICEF, and iSPIRT, and builds on the government’s broader digital transformation agenda, shifting the nation from a consumer of technology to a creator of locally relevant, open digital solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
As selected projects advance to the DPG Pipeline for certification, yesterday’s showcase signals a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s digital future — one driven by its own young innovators.
