On January 27, Ambassador Zhao Yong , Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone and H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone jointly presided over the unveiling ceremony of the “Excellence Skills Academy.” Nearly 200 attendees were present, including Counselor Wang Peng from the Embassy, Sierra Leonean Minister of The Technical and Higher Education Dr.Ramatulai Wurie, other senior government officials, representatives from the joint venture partners and Chinese enterprises in Sierra Leone, as well as faculty and student representatives. 

In his remarks, Ambassador Zhao Yong noted that, coincides with the 55th anniversary of China-Sierra Leone diplomatic relations and the “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges,” this joint initiative marks not only a significant advance for educational cooperation between the two countries but also a vivid example of China-Africa collaboration on youth empowerment, demonstrating both sides' firm resolve to deepen people-to-people bonds and jointly build the foundation for modernization.

President Bio highly commended China's sustained contributions to Sierra Leone's vocational education, emphasizing his government's unwavering commitment to skills training and youth empowerment. He expressed his anticipation that the academy would bolster youth development in Sierra Leone and inject new momentum into the nation's modernization efforts. 

The Excellence Skills Academy was established through collaboration between China Railway Seventh Engineering Group Sierra Leone Company Limited, Zhengzhou Railway Technician College, and Freetown Polytechnic, with its first cohort enrolled in automotive repair and carpentry programs.