FREETOWN, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Excellence Skills Academy in Sierra Leone on Friday held its first cohort training completion ceremony alongside the "Talk to China" youth exchange dialogue at the Freetown Polytechnic in Freetown, the capital.
Forty students were admitted into the academy's inaugural program, with 26 successfully completing the three-month intensive technical training.
Speaking at the ceremony, Feng Tao, chief supervisor of China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG) Sierra Leone Limited, co-founder of the academy, said that CRSG and other Chinese companies would provide employment opportunities for graduates and reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting vocational education in Sierra Leone.
Freetown Polytechnic Principal Samba Moriba described the initiative as a major contribution to youth employment and national development, noting that the academy provides modern equipment and practical training opportunities for students.
Haja Ramatulai Wurie, minister of technical and higher education, said the graduation represented a significant milestone in Sierra Leone's human capital development agenda.
Technical skills development remains central to the country's economic transformation, she said, urging graduates to contribute meaningfully to infrastructure, engineering and agricultural development.
Outstanding student Yusuf Baimba Kamara said that the program transformed participants from uncertain youths into skilled workers prepared to contribute to national development and strengthen Sierra Leone-China friendship.
Inaugurated on Jan. 27, the academy is equipped with multimedia classrooms and advanced teaching facilities, with professional Chinese instructors providing practical on-site training.
The curriculum was designed to meet local market demands and focused on automobile driving technology, electrical operation and maintenance, auto maintenance, and video editing. ■
