By Thaimu T Kamara

Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has welcomed new initiatives by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aimed at expanding education, skills development and employment opportunities for young people in Sierra Leone.

The Vice President made the remarks on Wednesday, August 26, during a meeting with senior leaders of the Church at the Office of the Vice President’s Conference Room in Freetown.

The discussions focused on the Church’s “Succeed in School” programme, healthcare interventions and plans to establish a Global Education Centre in Sierra Leone.

The proposed centre is expected to provide young Sierra Leoneans with greater access to affordable education, technology and skills development, while creating opportunities for graduates to secure employment with companies operating in international markets.

Vice President Juldeh Jalloh described the proposed Global Education Centre as a significant initiative with the potential to transform the prospects of young people.

“The Global Education Centre is phenomenal,” the Vice President said, noting that the initiative would create opportunities for young people to acquire knowledge and develop skills that could enable them to earn a living through technology.

He assured the Church delegation of government’s support and pledged to help fast-track the necessary documentation required for the establishment of the centre.

The Vice President also commended the Church for its community-based programmes, particularly initiatives that support education, healthcare and skills development.

He said partnerships that increase access to education and employment could contribute to producing a more productive and responsible generation of young Sierra Leoneans.

“Every time a young man or a young woman has got an opportunity to go to school and have a job, they become more responsible citizens,” he said.

The Vice President’s comments come amid growing government efforts to expand opportunities for young people through education, technical and vocational training, entrepreneurship and employment.

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, highlighted the expanding partnership between government and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in promoting practical education and skills development.

Dr Wurie said the Church’s support to technical institutions, including the provision of equipment, was helping students acquire practical, hands-on skills that could improve their employability.

She said the proposed Global Education Centre was also consistent with government’s efforts to promote technology-enabled learning and create employment opportunities beyond Freetown.

The Minister stressed the importance of embracing technology as Sierra Leone seeks to prepare young people for the changing global labour market.

“We have to embrace technology,” Dr Wurie said, adding that initiatives such as the Global Education Centre could equip young people with skills needed to secure dignified employment or establish their own businesses.

She further noted that expanding access to technology-based learning could help bridge geographical barriers and give young people outside the capital greater access to educational and employment opportunities.

Senior Church Leader Elder Clark G. Gilbert announced plans for the establishment of the Global Education Centre in Sierra Leone, describing it as an initiative with the potential to create hundreds of jobs for young people.

According to Elder Gilbert, the center would provide affordable and high-quality education while connecting Sierra Leonean students and graduates to global employers.

He explained that the initiative would allow young people to acquire internationally relevant skills and work for companies around the world without necessarily leaving Sierra Leone.

“We’re looking at hundreds and hundreds of jobs with global employers from all around the world,” Elder Gilbert said.

He described the proposed center as an opportunity to bring jobs, income and skills to Sierra Leone while enabling young people to remain in their communities and contribute to the local economy.

The initiative is expected to complement existing government programmes aimed at improving access to technical and higher education, digital skills and employment.

Stakeholders believe that expanding technology-driven education and remote employment could help address some of the challenges facing young people, particularly unemployment and limited access to specialised training.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between government and development partners in creating sustainable opportunities for the country’s youthful population.

With government expressing support for the initiative and the Church advancing plans for the Global Education Centre, the proposed project is expected to become an important component of efforts to equip Sierra Leonean youth with the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to compete in the global economy.

The partnership underscores a shared commitment to using education, technology and skills development as tools for creating jobs, improving livelihoods and empowering young people to become productive contributors to Sierra Leone’s development.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 31st August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)