The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier, has commended Sierra Leone’s growing commitment to youth empowerment and reintegration following his visit to the Obasanjo Skills Acquisition and Youth Transformation Centre in Newton on Tuesday, 1 April 2026.
The visit highlighted Sierra Leone’s continued efforts to provide sustainable opportunities for young people, particularly returnee migrants, through practical skills development and social reintegration initiatives.
The Obasanjo Centre, supported through the European Union-funded Migrant Protection and Reintegration Programme and implemented by the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the National Youth Commission, has become a vital institution for vocational training and youth transformation. The facility offers a wide range of market-driven programmes, including cosmetology, baking, catering, tailoring, solar and electrical engineering, civil construction, ICT, photography, driving and automobile engineering.
During the guided tour, Dr. Felipe Paullier interacted with trainees across different departments and praised their determination, resilience and commitment to rebuilding their lives through skills acquisition.
“This centre reflects the remarkable progress unfolding in Sierra Leone,” he stated. “At the United Nations, we believe young people must be at the heart of our institutions, especially those who have been marginalized.”
His remarks underscored the global body’s recognition of Sierra Leone’s youth-focused policies and the country’s practical interventions aimed at turning vulnerable young people into productive contributors to national development. He further commended the trainees for their dedication and pledged continued global advocacy for youth-centred programmes that create real pathways to self-reliance and economic empowerment.
Also speaking during the visit, Dr. Pauline Macharia, Officer-in-Charge of the International Organization for Migration, described the engagement as an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration with the United Nations on youth development initiatives.
“It is a privilege to engage the Assistant Secretary-General on how we can further support Sierra Leonean youth to drive national development,” she said, while reaffirming IOM’s longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and other national stakeholders in promoting youth inclusion and resilience.
The impact of the centre was further reflected in the testimonies of beneficiaries, many of whom expressed gratitude for the life-changing opportunities provided through the programme. One female trainee enrolled in the driving course described the initiative as a turning point in her life, noting that it had equipped her with “skills for life” and a clear pathway to independence and self-sufficiency.
National Youth Commissioner Joseph Maada Lahai emphasized that the Obasanjo Centre represents far more than a physical structure, describing it as “a hub for transformation, resilience, and innovation.”
He noted that the institution continues to serve as a symbol of hope for young Sierra Leoneans, especially those returning from difficult migration experiences, by equipping them with employable skills and renewed confidence to contribute meaningfully to society.
The visit by the UN Assistant Secretary-General further reinforces Sierra Leone’s rising profile as a leader in youth-centred development and reintegration across the region. With the Obasanjo Skills Acquisition and Youth Transformation Centre continuing to empower hundreds of young people, it stands as a beacon of opportunity for those determined to transform adversity into sustainable futures.
