New York, USA, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has delivered an inspiring keynote address at the 30th AFS Youth Assembly in New York, urging young leaders across Africa and beyond, to see adversity “not as a wall, but as a doorway.”
Addressing over 700 youth delegates from more than 80 countries, Bah reflected on his journey from a war-affected child to a global education advocate and now a Cabinet Minister. His speech traced Sierra Leone’s transformation from the ruins of civil war to a nation championing education, governance reform, and progressive social policies.
Bah recalled first standing on the same stage exactly 11 years ago as Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advocacy Group, where he shared his personal story of surviving war and fighting for education. “We didn’t yet speak of SDGs or global citizenship,” he said, “but we knew that education was the only path forward.”
Highlighting the challenges facing today’s youth — from misinformation and climate change denial to propaganda-fueled division — Bah stressed that education remains the most powerful tool for peace, resilience, and unity.
Under President Julius Maada Bio, he informed his audience that Sierra Leone allocates 22% of its national budget to education. He added that President Bio has abolished the death penalty, decriminalized abortion and libel, introduced free education, and launched the “Feed Salone” food security initiative.
He went on to state that the country now boasts of the youngest Cabinet in Africa, with over one-third being young women, and has risen nine places on the Global Press Freedom Index.
“As our President says: feeding the brain with education, feeding the tummy through agriculture, and caring for the body through healthcare — that’s human capital development,” Bah noted.
The Minister also outlined his efforts to bring governance closer to citizens through weekly press briefings in national languages, civic festivals, and presidential town halls, alongside modernizing broadcasting and protecting digital rights.
Closing his speech, Bah challenged young leaders to lead with courage and unity: “If a child who grew up under gunfire can return here decades later to speak to young leaders from 100 countries — then truly, nothing is impossible.”
