By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
A total of 337 migrant returnees have graduated from a six-week vocational skills training programme aimed at promoting their economic independence and supporting their successful reintegration into society through employment and self-employment opportunities.
The graduation ceremonies were held in Makeni on Thursday and Freetown on Friday, bringing together beneficiaries who successfully completed training in various practical and market-oriented skills.
The programme was organised by the National Youth Commission (NAYCOM) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sierra Leone, in collaboration with government partners, as part of efforts to equip returning migrants with the knowledge and skills needed to rebuild their livelihoods.
Participants received training in several vocational areas, including solar and electrical engineering, information and communication technology (ICT), tailoring, catering and baking, driving, engineering, make-up artistry and entrepreneurship.
According to IOM Sierra Leone, the initiative was designed to improve the graduates’ access to employment opportunities while also preparing them to establish and manage their own businesses.
The programme forms part of the European Union-funded Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Project, which seeks to assist returning migrants in rebuilding their lives, restoring their livelihoods and achieving sustainable reintegration into their communities.
IOM congratulated the 337 graduates, expressing hope that the skills and knowledge acquired during the six-week training would enable them to create better opportunities for themselves, support their families and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.
The initiative underscores the importance of vocational training and economic empowerment in addressing the challenges faced by returning migrants, particularly in securing sustainable livelihoods and reducing their vulnerability to economic hardship.
Through partnerships between government institutions and international organisations, the programme seeks to ensure that returning migrants are not only welcomed back into the country but are also provided with practical opportunities to become economically productive and socially integrated.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 11th November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
