The Ministry of Information and Civic Education on Tuesday, 14th October 2025, continued its nationwide Civic Day Series in Bo District. On Tuesday, 14th October 2025

The event brought together government officials, local authorities, and citizens in an effort to strengthen dialogue, promote transparency, and bridge the gap between government and the people.

Discussions focused on national priorities such as youth empowerment, women’s advancement, education, social protection, and democratic governance. Below are the key highlights from the engagement:

The Resident Minister of the Southern Region, Ing. John Abu, warmly welcomed the Ministry of Information and Civic Education to Bo District. He applauded Minister Chernor Bah for extending the Civic Day Series to the southern region, describing it as an innovative platform that brings governance closer to the people.

Ing. Abu urged participants to share the knowledge gained from the engagement with others and commended the Ministry for conducting the program in Krio, a language widely understood by Sierra Leoneans, which enhances inclusive civic participation.

The Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Sannoh, announced the completion of the country’s first-ever Status of Youth Report, which has been presented to President Julius Maada Bio. The report identifies key challenges in youth development and outlines strategic interventions for empowerment.

Minister Sannoh revealed that the Ministry will soon launch 1,500 scholarships for commercial motorbike riders (Okada riders) in six districts. The initiative will train them in middle-level technical skills such as masonry, plumbing, carpentry, and air-conditioning maintenance.

Additionally, 500 scholarships will be awarded to the best-performing students in this year’s WASSCE examinations for international university studies.

The Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hindowa Buakai Bindi, highlighted President Bio’s record achievements in women’s empowerment. These include the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, the approval of a new Gender Policy, the establishment of gender desks across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and the historic appointment of Sierra Leone’s first female army commander.

He further noted the passage of the Child Rights Act 2024 and the Alternative Care Policy, which replaces traditional orphanages with temporary care centers designed to reunite children with their communities within six months.

The Director of Sports, Aroun Korgi, underscored the vital role of sports in national development, noting that the sector has created more jobs for young people than any other government department.

He highlighted ongoing stadium rehabilitation projects across the country and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to using sports as a tool for empowerment, job creation, and national unity.

The Solicitor General, Robert Kowa Esq., announced that President Julius Maada Bio has signed the Child Rights Act 2024 into law. He also elaborated on the benefits of the Proportional Representation (PR) System, which has increased women’s representation in parliament by 30 percent.

Mr. Kowa explained that the PR system, grounded in the 1991 Constitution, fosters national unity, reduces political violence, and ensures fair representation. He encouraged political actors to educate citizens about the long-term benefits of the system.

Evelyne Konya Turay, Coordinator of the Women’s Forum – South, commended President Bio for the enactment of the GEWE Act, describing it as a landmark victory for gender equality.

She expressed optimism that women’s increasing participation in leadership is paving the way for even greater achievements, declaring that “Sierra Leone is ready for a woman president.”

The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, emphasized the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in building a skilled workforce for national development.

She highlighted a partnership with UNDP, which trained 100 young people in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and building construction. The Ministry has also developed a national plumbing curriculum and is harmonizing the National Qualifications Framework, allowing TVET graduates to advance academically up to PhD level.

Minister Wurie called for a change in public perception of TVET, stressing that it should no longer be viewed as a “second-class” career option.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Student Loan Scheme, Paul Joseph Amara, briefed participants on the government’s plan to provide affordable student loans to promote higher education access.

He disclosed that the pilot phase of the scheme supported 700 postgraduate students, including 34 PhD and 666 Master’s candidates, and that expansion plans are underway to include undergraduate and TVET students.

The Director of Communications at NASSIT, Mohamed Bangalie, provided updates on the Trust’s operations, revealing that 32,059 pensioners are currently receiving monthly payments, with the highest pension at NLe161,000.

He praised President Bio for increasing the minimum pension from NLe25 to NLe250, and announced plans to digitize customer services by 2025.

Mr. Bangalie also unveiled the upcoming Informal Sector Scheme, which will allow traders, bike riders, and other informal workers to access pensions and loans. In addition, NASSIT has received approval to invest in 8,000 student hostels across six university campuses nationwide.

The Director of Census at Statistics Sierra Leone, Mr. Abdulai Brima, announced the deployment of over 1,000 field staff for the national cartographic process. He further revealed that a Pilot Census will be conducted in December 2025 to test methodologies, tools, and systems in preparation for the 2026 National Census.

The Civic Day Series continues to serve as a platform for citizen engagement and participatory governance, fostering transparency, accountability, and national cohesion across Sierra Leone.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 17th October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)