By John Kelly Marah
The 2025 International Youth Day celebration at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Aberdeen, Freetown, on Tuesday, August 12, brought together development partners, government officials, civil society leaders, and hundreds of youth under the theme of youth empowerment through agriculture, climate change, skills, technology, and innovation.
In a passionate and motivational address, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, shared his journey from a humble rural upbringing to the cabinet, underscoring that success is not shaped by one’s origins but by mindset, determination, and resilience.
Sannoh stressed that localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is critical to addressing the challenges facing Sierra Leone’s youth. Citing the State of Youth Report, he revealed that over 60% of youth aged 18–35 live in poverty, only three in ten have completed tertiary education, and just one of those three is female. To tackle these gaps, he announced that 70% of future ministry programs will target women, with 5% reserved for persons with disabilities.
Highlighting agriculture as the country’s largest youth employer, Sannoh lamented the migration of rural labor to urban areas. He outlined plans to modernize farming and incentivize rural youth to remain in agriculture. On climate change, he urged young people to move from being passive victims to active innovators creating solutions for environmental challenges.
Sannoh also challenged the notion that a university degree alone guarantees success, stressing the importance of vocational and entrepreneurial skills. He announced the rollout of nationwide Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, starting with training 1,000 commercial motorbike riders. The free courses, accredited by the National Council for Technical, Vocational and Other Academic Awards (NCTVA), will be open to both literate and non-literate youth.
In partnership with international donors, the ministry will also introduce 50 electric vehicles, prioritizing women as drivers and maintenance operators. Sannoh encouraged youth to harness digital tools for self-employment, using smartphones for online business and marketing.
He concluded with a stern warning against drug abuse, especially kush, molly, and other hard substances, which he said erode focus and ambition. His final message was clear: seize opportunities, take responsibility, and actively shape Sierra Leone’s future.
