By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
In order to match growing entrepreneurship standards, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed ‘Orman’ Bangura has urged the youths of Sierra Leone to embrace agriculture which he said is the present and future of the country.
The minister was speaking at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s usual press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s conference hall at Tower Hill on the 15th of August, 2023.
He noted that before this time, young people believed that agriculture was just about hoe and cutlass, but said the youth ministry and the agriculture ministry are now trying to introduce innovative and modern agriculture by purchasing over 4,000 (four thousand) tractors for the youths.
He also stated that they have trained more than 5,000 (five thousand) young people for the Sumbuya project as plumbers, truck drivers, and in other skills so they will able to take up various jobs in the extractive industry.
“Last year the ministry allocated over 2 million dollars to entrepreneurs to push their dreams after selecting them from various parts of the country,” he said.
He further stated that the Youth-in-fishery project is one of the most successful projects in the ministry, which he said his office was able to secure over 4 billion old Leones for before the June elections. He said out of the seventy boats they have purchased for the project, they have hired a contractor to provide outboard machines for the boats.
The youth minister went on to state that the Car Wash project was successful as it helped remove youths from the streets some of whom were into drugs and other crimes.
On the international youth day theme of “Green Skills for young people” Bangura spoke about clean energy, digital skills, and e-commerce which said the youths should embrace.
He added that Orange Sierra Leone has trained over 3,000 (three thousand) young people on digital space, with about 400 (four hundred) having digital skills.
He affirmed that there are available jobs in the country but youths lacked the certified skills to occupy them. He said Mining companies are bringing engineers, technicians, and other professionals to occupy various spaces in the sectors, but report that through the Sumbuya project, they have trained plumbers, truck drivers, and others to take up various jobs in the extractive industry.
He recalled how the youth ministry used to be associated with corruption, indiscipline, and lacking developmental strides, but mentioned the audit report which the ministry as one of the most transparent in President Julius Maada Bio’s government.
He said there was no trust and confidence in the ministry before his appointment as minister, but has ensured that he works with young people for the growth of the country.
President Julius Maada Bio’s second term of office prioritizes agriculture as flagship programme with the slogan “feed salone.”
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