By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
On July 21, 2025, the Chief Executive Officer of Orange, Sekou Amadou Bah, along with the company’s management team, welcomed a high-profile government delegation to the newly relocated Orange Digital Center (ODC) on Alpha Wurie Drive, Hill Station, Freetown. This event highlights the government’s commitment to digital transformation and youth empowerment.
The delegation included key figures such as Minister of Youth Affairs Ibrahim Sannoh, Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah, and David Manley from the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation. They were greeted by Bah, Annie Wonnie-Katta, Director of the Orange Foundation, and Danetta Younge, General Secretary of the company, before embarking on an extensive tour of the center’s state-of-the-art facilities.
The ODC is equipped with a Fab Lab, an Orange Fab startup accelerator, and a coding school, all designed to foster innovation and digital literacy among the youth. During the tour, ministers interacted with students, including those with disabilities, who are benefitting from the center’s free digital courses. This engagement underscored Orange’s commitment to inclusivity and equal access to education.
The delegation also met finalists of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP), who are poised to pitch their business ideas for a chance to win the National Prize of NLe 200,000 and the Tech-Queen Prize of NLe 120,000. This initiative aims to encourage homegrown solutions to local challenges through technology.
Annie Wonnie-Katta shared insights into the center’s operations and broader initiatives of the Orange Foundation. Originally opened in February 2023, the ODC has relocated to its current site to enhance its impact. “We offer four core programs: a coding school, a solidarity FabLab, an Orange Fab startup accelerator, and training modules via Orange Digital Ventures,” she stated, emphasizing that all programs are free and accessible to the public.
Since its inception, the ODC has trained over 5,000 young people in various digital courses, with 338 participants benefiting from training programs between January and June 2025 alone. Key training modules included:
- Basic ICT Training: 112 participants
- Entrepreneurship for Beginners: 100 participants
- Scratch Coding for Beginners: 47 participants
In partnership with Coursera, the center has offered specialized online courses, further equipping participants with essential skills.
Wonnnie-Katta noted that 118 participants from the January to June 2025 cohort have secured jobs through the center’s job placement program. She reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering marginalized populations, particularly women and youth.
Minister of Youth Affairs Ibrahim Sannoh praised the ODC as a vital platform for youth empowerment. “This center represents hope and opportunity for the youth,” he remarked, expressing gratitude for the alignment between private sector investments and government initiatives in job creation.
Following his recommendation for young women to gain access to the center, a participant named Rosamond was officially admitted on July 23, 2025, to begin her foundational course in computer skills.
Minister Chernor Bah echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of digital skills for today’s technology-driven job market. He pledged to strengthen collaboration between his ministry and Orange to enhance access to digital literacy and civic education across the country.
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