Tonkolili MP Criticizes Superficial Employment Schemes, Advocates for TVET Focus

Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, Member of Parliament for Tonkolili District, has called for a strategic shift in Sierra Leone’s approach to youth empowerment.

Speaking during an engagement with the newly appointed Youth Commissioner, Joseph Maada Lahai, Hon. Koroma emphasized the need to prioritize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) over what he described as superficial and unsustainable employment schemes.

“The middle-level manpower is almost extinct,” Hon. Koroma stated. “We must give TVET education the prominence it deserves. Our youth need skills that can drive national development, not just short-term, low-impact jobs.”

The Tonkolili representative criticized what he sees as a pattern of short-term initiatives lacking vision and sustainability. He emphasized the importance of structured TVET programs to equip young people with employable skills, warning that continuing on the current path risks undermining the country’s future workforce and economy.

Koroma also expressed concern over the growing issue of substance abuse among youth, calling it a “ticking time bomb.” He further criticized the proliferation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) running youth-related programs without adequate coordination or oversight from government authorities.

“You have NGOs running youth projects without proper government oversight. That needs to change,” he said. “Take ownership. Coordinate. Lead. Redirect the narrative.”

Echoing Koroma’s remarks, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, Leader of the All-People’s Congress (APC) in Parliament and representative of Port Loko District, stressed the need for innovation in addressing youth unemployment. He challenged Commissioner Lahai to implement forward-thinking and transformative policies.

“If you cannot solve the problems of your peers, what else can you do?” Kargbo asked, urging the Commissioner to go beyond traditional employment frameworks.

Hon. Kargbo also highlighted the social cost of substance abuse, recounting a personal experience with a young man he mentored who later became homeless due to drug addiction. The story, he noted, is not unique and reflects a broader crisis affecting families and communities across Sierra Leone.

“This is not an isolated case. The drug crisis is robbing our nation of future leaders,” Kargbo said emotionally. “One of his children now bears my name. I am taking care of them.”

Both lawmakers described youth unemployment and mental health challenges as national emergencies requiring urgent attention. They called for the development of a comprehensive national strategy focused on TVET expansion, youth mentorship programs, and substance abuse prevention.

The session concluded with a clear message: youth empowerment in Sierra Leone needs a structural overhaul that prioritizes skills development, long-term employment pathways, and holistic support systems.

As Commissioner Lahai takes on his new role, expectations are high that he will move beyond short-term projects and lead a coordinated, strategic effort to address the complex challenges facing the country’s young population.