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The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, delivered a keynote address in Parliament on International Youth Day. The focus of her speech was “Youth Leadership and Participation in Politics: Shaping Sierra Leone’s Future.”
The 7th Edition Leadership Summit took place at the Sierra Leone House of Parliament in celebration of International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders from Sierra Leone and beyond participated. This annual event provides a platform for meaningful discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. Its goal is to nurture leadership skills, promote civic participation, and advance sustainable development.
The Honorable Minister commended the efforts of young people in advancing youth activities, emphasizing the unprecedented opportunities for youth to participate in leadership. She noted the significant presence of young individuals in current executive bodies, a change from her own early years.
Minister Barlay assured the President’s commitment to youth empowerment, which is a cornerstone of the “Big Five Game Changers” flagship program. The “Youth Empowerment Scheme” aims to create 500,000 jobs across both the public and private sectors.
She encouraged the youth to take meaningful actions towards securing a brighter future, emphasizing the importance of using social media positively rather than for spreading hate speech.
The Minister also expressed satisfaction in seeing young women actively participating in leadership initiatives, acknowledging the 30% quota they have long advocated for, with hopes of achieving 50% in the future.
In her closing remarks, she urged young people to intensify their efforts in political participation and leadership development, essential for sustaining the “Medium Term National Development Plan” (MTNDP). She pledged her commitment to promoting youth activities through strategic partnerships.
Other speakers also encouraged the youth to seize this moment. Mr. Salim Sillah of Leone Rock Mining Company advised young people to be self-disciplined, work hard for self-sufficiency, and leverage social media platforms to generate income. He expressed his support for facilitating and collaborating on youth leadership activities and pledged to support viable youth-led business initiatives.
Madam Marian Samu, Commissioner of the National Commission for Democracy, expressed her delight at the event, which brings young people into responsible leadership positions. She recounted her partnerships with children’s organizations, emphasizing the importance of involving young people and making them ambassadors of change among their peers.
Amb. Phabean Swill, CEO of WOW Group Ltd, further motivated the youth to uphold integrity, honesty, and avoid hypocrisy to help build a developed nation and secure a brighter future for all.
