China Railway Seventh Group Co., Ltd. (CRSG), in partnership with Zhengzhou Railway Technician College and Freetown Polytechnic, on Tuesday inaugurated the Excellence Skills Academy in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, officials said.
The academy aims to equip young Sierra Leoneans with practical vocational skills, enhance youth employment opportunities, and strengthen educational and technical cooperation between China and Sierra Leone.
The launch ceremony was attended by Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yong, highlighting the initiative as part of broader China-Sierra Leone cooperation.
“This program is vital for empowering young people and developing human capital in Sierra Leone,” President Bio said during the inauguration. He pledged government support for the initiative and encouraged CRSG to expand its contributions, including through the establishment of Chinese technology centers.
Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yong said the Excellence Skills Academy reflects a shared vision between China and Sierra Leone to enhance vocational education. “The academy translates shared visions into concrete realities,” he said, noting that 2026 marks both the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Zhao added that the Chinese embassy will continue to support educational cooperation, cultural exchange, and technical training programs.
The academy will focus on technical training in sectors including construction, railway operations, and engineering, combining classroom instruction with hands-on skills development. Samba Moriba, principal of Freetown Polytechnic, said the initiative demonstrates a shared commitment to building human and technical capacity. “This program will promote skills training among learners and provide opportunities for them to contribute positively to society,” he said.
CRSG General Manager Du Xinguo said trainees who successfully complete the program would be offered job placements, allowing them to apply their skills in the workforce and support Sierra Leone’s growing infrastructure and industrial projects.
Vocational education has become a priority for Sierra Leone as the government seeks to tackle high youth unemployment and strengthen technical capacity to support economic development. The new academy is expected to complement existing vocational programs and expand opportunities in urban and rural areas alike.
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The initiative also aligns with China’s broader engagement in Africa, which has increasingly focused on people-to-people cooperation, education, and infrastructure development. In recent years, Chinese firms have partnered with African governments to establish technical training programs, vocational centers, and scholarships, providing skills for local populations while supporting industrial projects.
Experts say that initiatives like the Excellence Skills Academy can play a critical role in creating a workforce equipped to meet the demands of infrastructure, transport, and energy sectors, which are key to Africa’s economic growth. By linking training with potential employment opportunities, the program aims to reduce the skills gap and support both public and private sector development.
The academy represents the latest in a series of China-Sierra Leone joint projects in education and technical training, reinforcing bilateral relations and contributing to youth development in West Africa. The program is expected to accept its first cohort of students in the coming months, with plans for gradual expansion based on demand and job placement outcomes.
Officials said that long-term goals include integrating advanced technical curricula, expanding partnerships with local industries, and ensuring that graduates are equipped with skills relevant to both national development priorities and regional labor markets.
