Russia and Sierra Leone have a long history of exchanging and building human capital, Sierra Leone's Deputy Minister of Finance, Kadiatu Allie, told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2024.
This was also said by the Sierra Leonean minister of technical and higher education, who noted last November that the Soviet Union and Russia have provided higher education for many Sierra Leonean students, who, then, have applied their knowledge to the development of the West African nation.
She recalled that the Sierra Leonean Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Mattai, studied in Russia around 35 years ago.
"So that has been the trend, and we hope to continue that, especially in these areas where we're lagging and where we need adequate help and knowledge to provide," she told Sputnik Africa, adding that human capital development is one of the government's top priorities.
Allie expressed hope that the Russian government will partner with Sierra Leone to ensure that the African nation "has the technology, know-how, human capital to be able to harness and resolve the water crisis" in the country.
According to her, SPIEF 2024 is another opportunity for Sierra Leone to build partnerships with Russia in knowledge sharing on ensuring water security in the African country.
Allie highlighted that despite abundant rains for six months in the country, "only 1% of the population has access to pure drinking water."
She noted that Sierra Leone could acquire some of the Russian technologies, the ways in which the African nation can use surface water during the six months of abundance, and then, by drilling or something, use underground water for the dry season.
A similar idea was expressed by Mattai, who said earlier in the day at one of the SPIEF's sessions that Sierra Leone "relys on" countries like Russia in the field of water security.