By Salllieu S. Kanu
Sierra Leone – The College of Digital Excellence (CODE) held its inaugural graduation ceremony on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Choithram International School, Hill Cut Road, Freetown, celebrating 102 graduates and a major milestone in Sierra Leone’s digital and human capital development journey.
Founded in April 2021 by the Choithram Group during the COVID-19 pandemic, CODE was established to equip young Sierra Leoneans with digital and entrepreneurial skills. The college offers training in coding, digital design, innovation, and entrepreneurship, preparing students to compete globally and contribute locally.
Delivering the opening address, CODE Co-Founder and Director Niharika Agnani described the event as a landmark moment for both the graduates and the nation’s digital future. “Digital excellence is not just about mastering technology — it’s about using it to create meaningful change,” she said, urging graduates to become trailblazers of innovation.
The ceremony drew high-profile dignitaries, including First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, who praised the graduates as “torchbearers of Sierra Leone’s digital future.” She emphasized the importance of education, inclusion, and character, stating, “Technology is not just about innovation; it is about inclusion and justice.”
Dr. Bio commended CODE’s commitment to gender inclusion and predicted a future where Sierra Leone could be led by a female president, noting, “Leadership is not about gender — it’s about vision, courage, and purpose.”
Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, encouraged graduates to become job creators rather than job seekers. She applauded CODE’s alignment with the government’s Human Capital Development Agenda and highlighted the growing participation of women in digital programs, with 32 of the 132 graduates being women.
Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, urged graduates to embrace innovation and integrity, emphasizing that “excellence means going beyond the ordinary” and that digital skills are central to Sierra Leone’s economic development.
Indian High Commissioner Shri Baisnab Charan Pradhan also addressed the gathering, commending CODE and the Choithram Group for their contributions to education and human resource development. He encouraged graduates to use their skills to strengthen communities and institutions, noting that “graduation is not the end of learning—it is the beginning of your role as contributors to nation-building.”
Valedictorians Alpha A. Kamara and Rebecca Hobbie delivered heartfelt speeches, reflecting on their journey and calling on peers to use their education to solve real-world problems. “We didn’t just finish school — we launched,” Hobbie declared, earning a standing ovation.
The CODE 2025 Graduation Ceremony underscored Sierra Leone’s commitment to digital transformation and youth empowerment, positioning the country for a future driven by innovation, inclusion, and excellence.