By Mahmoud Sillah
The Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, has outlined the successes of several youth empowerment initiatives spearheaded by his ministry.
Speaking at the official unveiling of these programs, he emphasized that most of the performance contracts he signed with President Julius Maada Bio have been successfully implemented.
The Minister revealed that through strategic collaboration, the Ministry of Youth Affairs has mobilized $1 million to support youth empowerment projects in record time.
Under the Food Systems Resilience Program, 4,200 young people have been engaged in agriculture, while others across the nation have benefited from skills transfer initiatives.
These programs, he noted, aim to improve the living standards of young people and pave the way for a brighter future.During the event, the Minister announced the launch of several initiatives, including: 200 tricycles to support youth employment in the transport sector.
50 local fishing boats equipped with state-of-the-art fishing accessories to boost the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Grants for 40 female-led organizations, advancing gender equality and economic inclusion.
Support for 864 rural youth through business startups, promoting entrepreneurship.
Hands-on training for 200 youth in aquaculture, poultry, and animal husbandry under farm placement programs.
In his keynote address, President Bio reaffirmed his government’s commitment to empowering Sierra Leone’s youth, who constitute over 70% of the country’s population.
He highlighted the importance of investing in education and skills development, describing young people as the nation’s most valuable asset.
“The rollout of free quality education by my government serves as a critical foundation for young people to tackle global challenges,” President Bio stated.
He encouraged youth to seize these opportunities and prove critics wrong by achieving meaningful outcomes for themselves and their communities.
Frederick Ampiah, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Representative, lauded President Bio’s leadership in youth empowerment.
He described the programs launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs as evidence of the government’s dedication to uplifting young people and aligning with global initiatives like the Timbuktu Declaration.
