HON. DR. HAJA RAMATULAI WURIE
Hon. Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie is Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, a scientist, academic, researcher and public-sector leader whose career spans biomedical science, health-systems strengthening, international research collaboration and national policy leadership. Her professional journey reflects a commitment to translating knowledge into practical solutions, strengthening institutions and expanding opportunities for people to contribute to the development of Sierra Leone and Africa.
Dr. Wurie began her academic training in the United Kingdom, earning a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biochemistry from the University of Liverpool in 2002, followed by a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Wolverhampton in 2004. She subsequently completed a PhD in Medicine at the University of Warwick in 2012, undertaking doctoral research through an industrial research partnership with AstraZeneca. Her early training as a laboratory scientist developed her commitment to rigorous scientific inquiry, evidence generation and analytical thinking.
In April 2013, Dr. Wurie returned to Sierra Leone and joined the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Sierra Leone, as an academic in Biochemistry. She later became Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Biochemistry. Her return marked a defining transition in her career, as she moved beyond laboratory-based science into multidisciplinary health-systems strengthening research. This transition broadened her understanding of how evidence interacts with policy, institutions, culture and human behaviour, particularly in complex and resource-constrained settings.
To strengthen her expertise in policy and public systems, she obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Management, Policy and Practice, with distinction, from the University of Leeds in 2015. She also pursued further training in research synthesis and quantitative methods. Through her subsequent research and academic work, she contributed to multidisciplinary scholarship addressing health equity, gender, mental health, non-communicable diseases and health-system strengthening. Her experience working across disciplines and alongside diverse communities and institutions deepened her conviction that research achieves its greatest value when it informs decisions, improves the delivery of services and contributes to lasting change.
Dr. Wurie has developed an extensive body of scholarly work, with more than 70 publications. Her academic engagement extends internationally, including her appointment as an Extraordinary Lecturer at the University of Pretoria and her work as a Guest Lecturer at King’s College London. Across these engagements, she has remained committed to connecting scientific evidence, professional learning and policy implementation.
In 2023, Dr. Wurie was selected as a Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Fellow, following a highly competitive international selection process. The fellowship brought together leaders from different disciplines and backgrounds, broadening her perspective on leadership, collaboration and the challenges of advancing equitable development. It strengthened her conviction that complex societal challenges require leaders who can work across professional boundaries, learn from different perspectives and translate evidence into collective action.
Following the fellowship, she was appointed Minister of Technical and Higher Education by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio in 2023. Her appointment marked a significant new chapter, taking her from academia and research into national policymaking and the responsibility of leading institutional and sector-wide reform.
As Minister, Dr. Wurie is leading efforts to transform Sierra Leone’s technical, vocational and higher education systems, positioning education, skills development, research and innovation as central drivers of human capital development and national economic transformation. Her priorities include expanding access to quality and inclusive education, strengthening institutional governance, improving the relevance of curricula, advancing digitalisation, promoting research and innovation, and building stronger partnerships between education institutions and industry.
A central element of her approach is ensuring that education and training respond to the changing needs of society and the economy. She champions stronger connections between learning and employment through demand-driven curricula, apprenticeships, recognition of prior learning, micro-credentials and closer collaboration with employers. She is equally committed to widening opportunities for women and girls, persons with disabilities and other groups that have historically faced barriers to education, skills development and economic participation. Her vision is for education to provide not only qualifications, but also the capabilities, confidence and opportunities people need to shape their own futures and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Beyond her ministerial responsibilities, Dr. Wurie remains engaged in African scholarship, leadership development and efforts to expand the contribution of women to public life. She is an alumna of the EJS Center’s Amujae Initiative, a Founding Fellow of the African Women’s Leadership Academy and a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, to which she was elected in 2025. These engagements reflect her commitment to strengthening African leadership, advancing the role of science and knowledge in development, and supporting wider opportunities for women to contribute to the continent’s future.
Dr. Wurie’s journey from biochemistry to health-systems research and national leadership has shaped her understanding of leadership as a continuous process of learning, reflection and action. She brings to public service the discipline of a scientist, the curiosity of a researcher and the practical perspective of a policymaker. Her experience has reinforced her belief that leadership is rarely linear; it requires a willingness to listen, learn across disciplines, challenge established assumptions and translate ideas into systems that work for people.
At the heart of her work is a conviction that Africa’s future will be shaped not only by the knowledge its people acquire, but also by the opportunities, institutions and partnerships that enable them to apply it. Through her leadership in technical and higher education, Dr. Wurie is committed to helping build education and skills systems that unlock human potential, foster innovation and equip the next generation to contribute to the development of Sierra Leone and the African continent.