Minister of Technical and Higher Education [Sierra Leone]

Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie is a distinguished academic, researcher, and visionary leader, currently serving as Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education. With over a decade of experience as a Senior Lecturer and multi-disciplinary researcher at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Dr. Wurie has consistently championed capacity-building and evidence-informed systems for national development.

Her academic credentials are both broad and deep. She earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Liverpool, followed by an M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Wolverhampton, a Ph.D. in Medicine from Warwick Medical School, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Management Policy and Planning from the University of Leeds. These qualifications have shaped her data-driven, inclusive approach to education reform.

As a researcher, Dr. Wurie has led several projects focused on strengthening health systems in Sierra Leone, promoting national ownership and collaborative strategies. She has played a pivotal role in building institutional research capacity at the University of Sierra Leone, fostering a culture of inquiry and innovation among faculty and students alike.

Her expertise has gained global recognition: she contributed to two major Lancet Commissions and was named a Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Fellow. Now, as Minister, she is dedicated to transforming Sierra Leone’s education sector through equitable, inclusive, and quality-driven policies. A lifelong learner, Dr. Wurie is committed to empowering future generations through education while balancing her professional achievements with her role as a mother.