Sierra Leone Information Technology Society (SLITS) was launched by the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Lansana Nyalley in Sierra Leone as part of an initiative to introduce Information and Communication Technology(ICT) in the country. stakeholders such as Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the diplomatic corps, journalists, business community and other dignitaries attended the event.
Information technology is the government's agenda for change in Sierra Leone. The government is presently putting modalities in place for the proper establishment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). According to Dr. Nyalley, many avenues have been created in the business community, academia and other important areas, in order to popularize the ICT facilities. He maintained that government is ready to support SLITS and other ICT Societies to achieve the opportunities that ICT offers.
According to the Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Ibrahim Sorie, it was a big opportunity for Sierra Leone to have an ICT Society that includes lecturers, students and members from all walks of life. SLITS is aimed at bringing all stakeholders together in order to gain a wealth of knowledge from ICT and utilize it for the purpose of development. He appealed to all stakeholders, including government, to put hands on deck and support SLITS.
The National President of SLITS, Mr. Alfred Hindolo Fomolu, spoke on the shortage of ICT instruments in tertiary institutions. Sierra Leone ranked 170th out of 178 countries in the world of ICT. ICT plays a very vital role, and thus SLITS was formed mainly to strengthen and develop ICT in the country. But there was a need for the government, the business communities, the parliamentarians and other stakeholders to put policies in place that will enhance ICT in Sierra Leone.
