Ankara, Turkiye, Friday 28th February 2025 - Sierra Leone Ambassador to Turkiye, Her Excellency Francess Virginia Anderson, PhD, has showcased the country’s Big Five Game Changers Priority Programmes to members of the diplomatic community and investors, and has called them to visit Sierra Leone and invest.

The “Big Five Game Changers” initiative in Sierra Leone is a strategic framework introduced by the President, His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio. They aimed at transforming the country’s socio-economic landscape. This initiative focuses on five key areas that are expected to drive significant progress and development within the nation. They are the most pressing challenges through targeted strategies in education, agriculture, health care, infrastructure development, and youth empowerment.

Welcoming guests to the special diplomatic gathering, Ambassador Virginia Anderson, PhD, noted that Sierra Leone and Türkiye have shared diplomatic ties since the 1970s; and that such relationship has deepened, culminating in Türkiye’s establishment of an Embassy in Sierra Leone in 2019, and in 2020 Sierra Leone also opened its Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye.

“Today, the brotherly relations between His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio reflect the strong and growing partnership between our two nations” she noted.

Dr. Anderson further noted that the event was unique—not just a cocktail reception but a celebration of Sierra Leone’s strides since 2018 and the continued upward trajectory and visionary leadership of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has positioned the country as a key player on the global development stage.

Ambassador Anderson recalled that the development strides made by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio since his election in 2018 included significant legislative achievements, judicial reforms aimed at improving access to justice, enhancements in healthcare infrastructure, governance accountability measures through the control of corruption, and an emphasis on human capital development as essential for sustainable growth

“During his first term, President Julius Maada Bio’s flagship human capital development agenda saw 21% of the national budget dedicated to Free Quality Education and nationwide school feeding programs.

Following his triumphant re-election in 2023, President Bio launched “The BIG 5 Agenda”, with agriculture at the forefront through the “Feed Salone” initiative

“Sierra Leone—a country blessed with warm and resilient people, abundant natural resources, and a promising future. But beyond this virtual experience, we look forward to welcoming you to Sierra Leone in person soon!”, she concluded.

For Further Inquiries:

Sierra Leone Embassy Ankara, Türkiye

info@tr.slembassy.gov.tr

X: @TurkeySLE

Facebook: Sierra Leone Embassy Türkiye