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The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs and Head of the UN Youth Office, Felipe Paullier, has engaged students at Central University in a high-level roundtable on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation.
The engagement brought together students, university authorities, government representatives, and stakeholders, including the International Trade Centre, to discuss how emerging technologies can drive entrepreneurship, enhance education, create jobs, and promote sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the session, Paullier stressed that young people are not merely consumers of technology but active creators and innovators who must be placed at the centre of the country’s digital transformation.
He noted that empowering youth with the right digital skills and opportunities is critical to unlocking their potential and ensuring meaningful participation in the global digital economy.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships, investing in digital capacity building, and promoting inclusive innovation to ensure that no young person is left behind.
The roundtable forms part of broader efforts by the United Nations to support youth engagement and innovation-driven development in Sierra Leone.
With about 60% of Sierra Leone’s population being young people, experts believe that rising internet usage with emerging technologies could open great possibilities for youth in the West African country.
