By Amin Kef (Ranger)
President Julius Maada Bio joined more than 1,200 delegates at the Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania on Tuesday 25 July 2023. The summit aims to accelerate Africa’s economic growth by boosting youth productivity through improved learning and skills.
Upon his arrival, President Bio tweeted, “I have arrived in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to attend the Africa Heads of State Human Capital Summit under the theme ‘Accelerating Africa’s Economic Growth: Boosting Youth Productivity by Improving Learning and Skills.'”
The two-day summit gathers leaders from across the continent to prioritize investments in people as a key driver of productivity, resilience, and growth. President Bio emphasized that Human Capital Development has been his government’s top priority over the past five years, unlocking the aspirations of the people and fostering economic potential. Sierra Leone’s success story in investing in education, healthcare, and agriculture will be shared with other African nations.
Under the New Direction Manifesto 2023-2028, the Sierra Leone People’s Party government has identified five initiatives for lasting transformation, with the “Feed Salone” program playing a central role in boosting staple food production, creating jobs, and reducing poverty.
The summit also focuses on encouraging private sector collaboration with governments as co-sponsors and co-producers of quality human capital, recognizing that the private sector benefits significantly from such development efforts.
During the summit, President Bio actively participated in panel discussions and stressed the importance of Human Capital Development to harness Africa’s demographic dividend for a united, peaceful, and prosperous continent. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s notable investment in education, which led to significant achievements in school enrollment and university entrance examination pass rates through the Free Quality School Education Program.
Looking ahead, President Bio is committed to translating their Human Capital investments into a highly skilled labor force capable of tackling 21st-century challenges and opportunities. His goal is to ensure the youth are equipped to become productive citizens.
In a related event at the UN Food Systems Summit +2 in Rome, Italy, President Bio met with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. They discussed Sierra Leone’s investment in emergency preparedness, the establishment of a national public health agency, expanding immunization, eliminating cervical cancer, and reducing maternal mortality.
Additionally, President Bio held a bilateral discussion with António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, who congratulated him on his re-election. The two leaders discussed important matters and posed for the press during the meeting.
In a recent tweet, President Bio expressed his enthusiasm and satisfaction after meeting with the Sierra Leone Under-19 cricket team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The encounter left him inspired and hopeful for the team’s bright future on the international stage.
During the meeting, President Bio was impressed by the unwavering determination, passion, and strong sense of national pride exhibited by the talented young cricketers. Their commitment to bringing honor to the country was palpable and left a lasting impact on the President.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s unyielding dedication to fostering and nurturing young talents in Sierra Leone. Acknowledging the significant potential of soft power through sports and arts, the government is committed to creating ample job opportunities and providing a platform for the youth to flourish and contribute to the nation’s progress.
Beyond job creation, the President emphasized that the government’s mission also includes instilling patriotism, fostering national pride, and cultivating resilience among the young populace. This, he believes, will pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for the nation.
Looking ahead, President Bio extended his best wishes to the Sierra Leone Under-19 team as they gear up for the upcoming ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier Tournament. Success in this competition will grant them the coveted chance to compete at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2024. The President expressed his hopes that the team will perform exceptionally well and make Sierra Leone proud on the global cricketing stage.
The President’s support and encouragement have bolstered the spirits of the young cricketers, and the entire nation eagerly anticipates the team’s performance in the upcoming tournament. With such unwavering backing from the highest office in the land, the future of Sierra Leone’s cricketing prowess looks exceptionally promising.
