By:
Robert Kwaku Annor
The
Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, in partnership with the National
Science, Technology and Innovation Council (NSTIC), has reviewed five
nationally funded research and innovation projects supported by the African
Centre for Technology Studies (ACT) as they near completion.
Implemented
across universities and tertiary institutions, the projects address pressing
national priorities. Key findings highlighted included evidence of widespread
misdiagnosis of tuberculosis, with patients actually suffering from chronic
fungal lung infections, the development of an AI-powered learning platform for
low-connectivity environments, and a clean-cooking stove innovation delivering
health, environmental, and economic benefits, particularly for women.
Minister
Haja Ramatulai Wurie stressed the Ministry’s focus on youth-inclusive,
demand-driven research that moves beyond academic publications to influence
policy, support commercialization, and drive industrialization.
The
Ministry affirmed its continued collaboration with NSTIC, development partners,
and other government agencies to leverage science, technology, and innovation
for practical solutions and sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
