Freetown: United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Dr. Felipe Paullier completed a high-level working visit to Sierra Leone, targeting youth empowerment, employment expansion, and inclusive governance.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, during Freetown engagements, Dr. Paullier convened strategic dialogues with government officials, civil society groups, youth organizations, and development partners. Discussions centered on collaborative mechanisms to elevate young people’s participation in national transformation.
Welcoming the UN delegation, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Honourable Ibrahim Sannoh, reaffirmed state commitment to adolescent development. He spotlighted ongoing entrepreneurship, education, digital innovation, and job creation initiatives. Deputy Minister Patrick Michaelson Gebrilla emphasized that younger citizens constitute a significant population share, remaining central to sustainable progress.
Speaking from the minister’s Scan Drive office, Dr. Paullier praised the administration’s youth engagement strides. He noted that national empowerment efforts align perfectly with the UN Youth Strategy and Sustainable Development Goals.
‘Energy, creativity, and resilience among Sierra Leone’s young generation are remarkable,’ Dr. Paullier stated. ‘Investing in youth transcends national priority-it becomes a global necessity for peace, prosperity, and lasting development.’
The delegation also listened to young entrepreneurs, innovators, and students, capturing their challenges and aspirations. Key concerns raised included unemployment, limited funding access, skills training gaps, and weak youth participation in governance.
Senior Ministry of Youth Affairs officials assured policy strengthening to tackle these hurdles. Planned expansions include vocational training programmes, improved financing routes for youth-led businesses, and enhanced leadership pathways for younger demographics.
This visit promises deepened UN Sierra Leone collaboration, paving the way for robust youth-focused programmes and enduring partnerships. Growing international confidence in the country’s youth agenda underscores one powerful truth: empowering young people drives national transformation.