By Geotge M.O. Wiliams
Kerry Town, Western Rural District — In a landmark ceremony held on Monday, September 15, 2025, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, officially opened Olive B. Academy, a state-of-the-art all-girls boarding school dedicated to STEM education and leadership development.
The event drew key stakeholders from the education sector, government, and local communities, all gathered to witness what many described as a transformative moment in the country’s educational journey.
Delivering her keynote address, Dr. Fatima Bio hailed the academy as a “living legacy of hope and possibility,” emphasizing its role in empowering girls and reshaping the future of education in Sierra Leone. She underscored the importance of education in protecting girls from child marriage and other vulnerabilities, urging parents to remain actively involved in their children’s development.
“Girls can no longer be silenced,” the First Lady declared, adding that Olive B. Academy aligns with the government’s Human Capital Development agenda and positions Sierra Leone to compete globally.
She also encouraged parents to trust in the country’s growing educational infrastructure, discouraging the practice of sending children abroad for schooling. “We now have facilities here that rival those in Ghana and Nigeria,” she affirmed.
Government Endorsement and Parliamentary Support
Minister of Education Conrad Sackey praised the academy as a shared vision between the government and private sector, calling education “the key to opportunity, hope, and transformation.” Chairman of Parliament’s Education Committee, Hon. Amara Momoh Kargbo, expressed optimism that the academy would help restore Sierra Leone’s educational prestige and attract regional interest.
Founded by education advocate Olive Favour Baimba, Olive B. Academy is designed to deliver a globally competitive education rooted in the Cambridge curriculum and STEM-focused learning. The school opened its doors on September 8, 2025, to its first cohort of Junior Secondary School (JSS) students—all girls who successfully passed the NPSE exams.
Madam Baimba described the launch as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s education sector, stating, “No child should be left behind—especially girls in Sierra Leone.”
The academy spans 20 acres of fully fenced land and features:
28 smart classrooms with LCD TVs
Robotics, science, and computer labs
Dormitories with foam beds and pillows
A mini clinic and 24-hour nursing station
A counselling centre and orientation room
Teachers’ quarters and a reception lounge
CCTV security and a 75KVA solar power system
Personal laptops for every student
Three nutritious meals daily
Female-Led Faculty and Rigorous Standards
With 80% of its teaching staff being women, the academy emphasizes relatable role models and academic excellence. Class sizes are capped at 15 to 25 students, ensuring personalized attention. A rigorous recruitment process ensured that only the most qualified educators—particularly in English and Mathematics—were selected.
Senior Secondary School (SSS) classes are scheduled to begin in two years, allowing the institution to focus initially on JSS 1 and JSS 2. With a subsidized fee of Le23,000 per term, Olive B. Academy offers premium education at an accessible cost.
A New Dawn for Girls in Sierra Leone
Parent representative Madam Fatmata Kuyateh described the academy as a “dream come true,” affirming that it reflects the value placed on children’s potential. “As parents, we entrust our children to this vision of academic excellence,” she said.
With interest already pouring in from families in Togo and the diaspora, Olive B. Academy is poised to become a regional hub for girls’ education. As Madam Baimba concluded, “Our aim is to change the perception of the girl child’s potential, challenge marginalisation, and nurture future leaders.”