In Kédougou, the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, launched the Universal Connectivity initiative, a major national program that will provide free internet access to 1 million Senegalese, prioritizing areas where digital access has so far been limited or almost non-existent.
The choice of the Mamba Guirassy Technical, Industrial, and Mining High School for this launch carries strong symbolic and strategic significance. Established in 1998 on a vast 17-hectare site, this institution is a pillar of technical and vocational training in the country’s Southeast region, at the heart of an area with significant mining, agricultural, and industrial potential. Each year, it trains hundreds of technicians and senior technicians in fields directly aligned with the needs of the national economy.
Universal connectivity becomes a driver of educational transformation at the school. It provides expanded access to digital resources, strengthens the quality of learning, modernizes technical training, and improves the alignment between education and employment. It also better prepares students for the technological demands of the industrial, mining, and agricultural sectors, while enhancing their employability.
Beyond this high school, the launch represents a deliberate political shift aimed at making digital technology an instrument for territorial inclusion, equal opportunities, and social justice. By connecting training institutions, schools, health centers, and rural communities to the national digital space, the State affirms that one’s place of birth or residence should no longer determine access to knowledge and opportunities.
Through this initiative, part of the “Technological New Deal,” the Head of State firmly commits Senegal to universal digital access as a lever for human capital transformation, job creation, and sovereignty, in line with the Senegal 2050 vision.
