MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS UNVEILS STRATEGIC VISION AT NATIONAL YOUTH STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs (MOYA) on Tuesday held its National Youth Steering Committee meeting with a powerful call to action: the future belongs to Sierra Leone’s young people. The meeting brought together key government ministries, international development partners, and civil society organizations to discuss youth empowerment and national development. Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, delivered a visionary address during which he unveiled the Ministry’s draft Youth Status Report and outlined its strategic roadmap. With conviction, he declared, “No youth left behind. Not now, not ever,” emphasizing that young people are not mere beneficiaries but partners in shaping Sierra Leone’s future. The Minister detailed plans to empower youth entrepreneurs, reduce unemployment, and expand district-level skills training initiatives. The session also featured statements from representatives of the World Bank, UNDP, European Union, FAO, NACSA, and the Ministries of Planning, Agriculture, Trade, Labour and Social Security, and Finance. The World Bank highlighted its collaboration with the Ministry of Planning to support youth-focused development projects. UNDP described the report as a critical baseline for future action and urged the integration of gender-inclusive and innovation-driven strategies. The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized youth-led agricultural programs, while the EU commended MOYA’s data-driven planning and expressed support for locally led and women-focused initiatives. The meeting closed with a unified commitment from all stakeholders to advance a collaborative and impactful approach to youth development in Sierra Leone.