VP Jalloh Champions Youth Empowerment and Digital Innovation at National Summit.

Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth through digital innovation, as he officially launched the second phase of the Sierra Leone Innovate Digital Government Summit held at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown.

Addressing a packed auditorium of young innovators, students, development partners, and government officials, Dr. Jalloh described the summit as a “story of vision,” aimed at connecting Sierra Leone’s major investments in education to tangible job creation opportunities in the digital economy.

“We have built a strong foundation in education, and now we are building bridges to employment,” said the Vice President. “This government has allocated over 22% of the national budget to education, with over 1.2 million children now enrolled in school. But education must lead to jobs—and technology is that bridge.”

Dr. Jalloh also announced plans to enact new legislation to protect the intellectual property rights of local developers, app builders, and content creators. “When you build your technology or your app, no one should steal it. We are putting laws in place to protect your creativity,” he emphasized.

Delivering an impassioned address, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Sannoh, described Sierra Leone as a "young country" where over one-third of the population is between 18 and 35. He encouraged youth to adopt a mindset of innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.

Through the Ministry’s Digital Employment Scheme, thousands of young Sierra Leoneans are being trained in data management, digital marketing, and the use of software tools to support both job readiness and entrepreneurship. Minister Sannoh also unveiled a major youth-led agricultural initiative that will see the cultivation of 15,000 trees per youth chiefdom in high-value cash crops including oil palm, cashew, cacao, coffee, and bamboo.

“We are not just training farmers,” the Minister said, “we are building agripreneurs.”

In a further boost to youth skills development, the Ministry is preparing to roll out a National Skills Development Programme that will train 5,000 young people across trades such as tailoring, carpentry, plumbing, cosmetology, and others. Notably, 70% of the Ministry’s interventions will be women-led, reaffirming the government’s commitment to gender inclusion.

Representing the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, the Permanent Secretary underscored the importance of building an inclusive digital government that reaches even the most remote areas. Sharing a personal story about his mother’s experience in a rural community, he emphasized that digital transformation is not only about connectivity but about access, dignity, and opportunity.

“Technology is no longer optional—it’s a lifeline,” he said. “Let’s move from intention to impact. Let’s build a digital government that is not just smart, but truly transformative.”

The summit also recognized outstanding youth talent, with Mohamed Turay emerging as the grand winner of the Educube Debate Competition Challenge. Turay’s school received a 20-foot Educube Hub equipped with 18 computers, solar power, Starlink internet, a television, printer, and air conditioning. The top three finalists were each awarded personal laptops.

The Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation extended appreciation to its partners—UNICEF Sierra Leone, Elcome, and MultiTech—for their ongoing support to youth learning and innovation.

As the summit concluded, Vice President Jalloh left participants with a powerful message:

“We will not sleep until every child in Sierra Leone has the chance to dream, to learn, and to work in dignity.”

Aminata Turay

Office of the Vice President

Tel: +232 99 776 914

Email: aminataturay218@gmail.com