Dr. David Moinina Sengeh stands at the forefront of Sierra Leone’s modern renaissance, combining his roles as the nation’s first-ever Chief Innovation Officer and its current Chief Minister. Born and raised in Sierra Leone, Dr. Sengeh’s academic journey is as impressive as his professional milestones. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in Biomechatronics from MIT’s Media Lab, where he pioneered award-winning prosthetic interfaces. His educational foundation also includes time at the Red Cross Nordic United World College in Norway and Prince of Wales Secondary School in Freetown.
From 2019 to 2023, Dr. Sengeh served as Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, where he championed educational reform. His leadership expanded access to quality education and advanced national literacy efforts. Internationally, he chairs UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report Advisory Board and co-chairs the technical committee for Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
As co-founder and president of Global Minimum (GMin), Dr. Sengeh has been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation among African youth. GMin’s flagship initiative, Innovate Challenges, empowers high-school students to transform ideas into tangible solutions, winning recognition from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Next Century Innovators Awards.
Dr. Sengeh’s contributions have earned him accolades such as Forbes 30 Under 30 in Technology, a TED Senior Fellowship, and recognition as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer. He is also an Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Fellow and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.
Beyond his professional roles, Dr. Sengeh is an afrobeat rapper, clothing designer, and sports enthusiast. His book, Radical Inclusion (2023), reflects his dedication to equity and accessibility, reinforcing his vision for a more inclusive world. As a husband and father of three, he balances innovation with inspiration, embodying the change he advocates for.
