By Sulaiman Jalloh
Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura has announced a government plan to create seven thousand job opportunities for the young people in the country. Mr. Bangura was speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, 14th May, 2024, at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s conference hall in Freetown.
According to the youth minister, his Ministry is focusing on skills training programs, offering capacity building and financial start-ups, including those fishery projects, adding that the programs are being tailored to the specific needs of the local economy, providing training in sectors such as agriculture, technology, and healthcare.
He added that the government is also intending to assist youths in the commercial sector with at least four hundred (400) tricycles (kekeh) to enable young people start their businesses and access education and healthcare with eight percent (80%) recovery rate, while pointing out that the establishment of a training facility for youth with modern technology among various sectors will ensure that young people have the support they need to succeed. “Access to finance is crucial for young entrepreneurs and individuals seeking education and training opportunities, especially those in rural areas,” Mr. Bangura noted, while assuring his Ministry’s commitment in ensuring access to finance for young people across the country.
Mohammed Orman Bangura further revealed that there is a six-million-dollar agriculture project targeting young people as they have the potential to significantly boost the economy and address food security issues, saying the project is an essential one for sustainability and providing the necessary training and support for young people in the agriculture sector.
He emphasized the importance of the GIZ grant application program as an opportunity for young people to access funding and support their projects and initiatives, stressing that it will have a major positive impact on the lives of young people in the country.
He said that the initiative is a significant undertaking and has the potential to provide a much-needed boost to the country’s economy, hence it will address the issue of youth unemployment. “These job opportunities will be accessible to all young individuals, including those in rural areas and those with disabilities,” he assured.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Friday, May 17TH, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
