By Samuel Hinga Norman
Freetown, 19th December 2025- Meraki Analytics, one of Sierra Leone’s leading research and analytics firms, has concluded a five-day Data, Leadership, and Career Training held at the SLICO Building on 68 Sanders Street in Freetown. The training brought together participants from diverse professional backgrounds and career paths, intending to equip them with practical data skills through an intensive blend of theoretical instruction and hands-on learning.
Meraki Analytics is driven by a team of young engineers, IT specialists and data analysts, and provides services in data analysis, data collection, data support and statistical modelling for both small and large businesses. The boot camp formed part of the company’s broader effort to promote data literacy and strengthen evidence-based decision-making across sectors.
Throughout the five days, participants were trained in key areas including data ethics, data collection tips and techniques, data cleaning, storytelling with data, artificial intelligence, and data, as well as workplace principles. The programme combined theory with practice to ensure that participants gained skills that can be applied directly in academic, professional, and business environments.
Speaking to Truth Media, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Meraki Analytics, Joel Abdulai Kallon, emphasized the importance of data in everyday decision-making. He stated that “data plays an important role in making informed decisions and is essential in our daily lives,” adding that as part of the company’s civic responsibility, investing in the next generation of data analysts is worthwhile. He noted, “We are building a community of data–literate professionals who, in the future, will be able to collect, clean, and present data.”
Kallon further expressed confidence that the skills acquired by participants would reflect in their various career paths over time. According to him, “This is just a start, and it is something our company intends to do over time. This is just the beginning.” He also stressed that such initiatives would contribute significantly to Sierra Leone’s digital economy and help position the country to compete in the artificial intelligence space.
Participants at the boot camp also shared positive feedback on the impact of the training. Nancy Habib Bangura, a student, described her experience as rewarding, saying, “This five–day boot camp has taught me a lot, and the training has covered what my university should have taught me. This will help me immensely in writing my dissertation.” She added that the programme has shaped her mindset on how to use data effectively in her academic journey and noted that the skills gained will be beneficial to her going forward.
Similarly, Ibrahim Sorie Conteh, General Manager of Leone Teklog Ltd, commended the initiative and described the training as interesting and insightful. He stated, “I have gotten vast experience in how to look at data and find insights on how to make meaningful business decisions.” Reflecting on his previous approach, he admitted that before the training, he hardly made business decisions backed by data, but emphasized that this has now changed and that he is committed to incorporating these skills into his business operations.
The successful completion of the Data, Leadership, and Career Training highlights Meraki Analytics’ growing role in building digital capacity and promoting a data-driven culture in Sierra Leone. As demand for data skills continues to rise globally, initiatives such as this serve as a critical step toward empowering individuals, strengthening businesses, and preparing the country for meaningful participation in the digital and artificial intelligence economy.
