By Kadiatu A. Turay
In a milestone initiative to combat youth unemployment and advance skills development in Sierra Leone, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the government of Sierra Leone and with funding from the Government of Japan, has officially inaugurated the country’s first Centre of Excellence for Automotive Training. Located at Freetown Polytechnic’s Kissy Campus, the $3 million facility represents a significant investment in technical and vocational education, aimed at building a skilled and self-reliant workforce.
Fully outfitted with modern automotive tools, diagnostic equipment, and interactive learning facilities, the Centre will deliver a competency-based curriculum in automotive technology, with the capacity to train 400 students annually, the program is designed to produce qualified technicians and empower young entrepreneurs within Sierra Leone’s growing automotive industry.
Speaking at the launch, Virpi Stucki, UNIDO’s Chief of the Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards, and Trade, highlighted the Centre’s transformative potential, this Centre is not just about cars and machines it’s about opportunities, empowerment, and preparing young people for today’s job market, she said, we’re training 200 certified automotive technicians and equipping another 200 youths with entrepreneurial skills to create jobs, not just seek them.”
She praised the strong partnership between UNIDO, Japan, and the Sierra Leonean government as a reflection of their shared commitment to inclusive industrial growth and youth empowerment.
The Centre combines theoretical and hands-on training, closing the gap between education and employment. Courses are aligned with global standards and delivered by industry professionals and instructors specially trained under the program. Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Alpha Osman Timbo, hailed the Centre as a critical intervention in addressing Sierra Leone’s employment crisis:
Youth unemployment is one of the country’s most urgent challenges, he said, this Centre is a direct response, we’re delivering real solutions by providing young people with practical, in-demand skills to contribute meaningfully to national development, representing the Japanese Government, Ambassador Watanabe Kazuhiko reaffirmed Japan’s longstanding commitment to human development in Africa:
We believe in investing in people, he stated, this Centre is a product of that belief, it brings hope to Sierra Leone’s youth and deepens the bond between our two nations. he emphasized that Japan has a consistent track record of supporting vocational training in Africa as a foundation for peace, productivity, and prosperity.
Beyond technical education, the Centre will also provide entrepreneurial training and incubation services for youth interested in starting auto repair shops, diagnostic centers, or spare parts businesses. qualified graduates will receive startup support, including toolkits, mentorship, and access to microfinance services, Dr. Ezekiel Bangura, Principal of Freetown Polytechnic, called the Centre a “dream come true” for the institution and community:
For years, we’ve talked about upgrading our technical education facilities, today, we see that dream realized, and this Centre elevates us as a leader in technical education in West Africa. It gives our students not just skills, but confidence and purpose, among the first wave of beneficiaries is Mariatu Sesay, 23, a high school graduate from Calaba Town who has always aspired to enter the auto industry.
I never thought I’d get to work with real tools and learn the right way, she said, smiling, Now I can see myself owning a garage someday, this Centre gave me that hope, Abdulai Kamara, 25, a self-taught motorbike mechanic, echoed her sentiment, I’ve been fixing kekeh and okadas on the street without formal training. Now, I’ll get certified and those changes everything, industry players also expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. Patrick Davies of the Sierra Leone Motor Traders Association said the Centre addresses a critical shortage of qualified technicians:
We constantly struggle to find skilled workers most learn on the job, which limits their ability. This Centre will raise the standard across the board, improving service quality and reducing our reliance on foreign technicians, he urged the government to support graduates with access to loans, startup capital, and opportunities to bid for public contracts.
The initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 Quality Education, Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Goal 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Josephine Kamara, a UN consultant and development economist, stressed the broader impact, this is development cooperation at its best. It links education, employment, and entrepreneurship in a unified system. If scaled, it has the potential to transform the national economy.”
UNIDO has committed to ongoing technical support, including monitoring and evaluation to ensure quality outcomes. Discussions are already underway to replicate the model in other regions, including Makeni and Bo, A digital tracking system will monitor graduate employment, business startups, and innovation metrics to assess long-term impact, as the ribbon was cut and applause filled the air, it was clear: the Centre of excellence for automotive Training is more than a facility it’s a powerful symbol of hope, partnership, and opportunity for Sierra Leone’s youth.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 19th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
