By Ibrahim John Sesay
The Orphan Empowerment Society Sierra Leone (TOES-SL) on Friday, April 24, 2026, hosted a youth roundtable discussion aimed at promoting youth participation in national development, bringing together a broad cross-section of young people, private sector representatives, Civil Society leaders and development stakeholders at the Africell-American Corner in Freetown. The event, held under the theme: “Empowering Sierra Leone Youths for National Development,” created a platform for meaningful dialogue on the future of young people in the country, with a focus on encouraging policy conversations, innovative thinking and collaborative solutions to enhance youth inclusion and leadership.
Deliberations during the engagement centered on strengthening the role of young people in governance, entrepreneurship, education and economic growth, as participants exchanged ideas on education, employment and leadership while underscoring the need to address existing imbalances and promote active citizenship.
Speaking at the opening session, the National Coordinator of TOES-SL, Ambassador Alie Conteh, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of sustained investment in young people, noting that they remain central to Sierra Leone’s human resource development and national transformation. Ambassador Alie Conteh stressed that young people should not be seen only as future leaders but as active contributors to the country’s present development, while calling for stronger partnerships between Government institutions, private sector actors and Civil Society Organizations to effectively address challenges facing the youth population.
The Media, Communication and Public Relations Officer at Air Sierra Leone, Rashidatu Umarr, encouraged participants to pursue excellence, build confidence and take advantage of available opportunities in education and career development, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to empowering young people for national development and urging them to remain focused and prepared for future opportunities.
In a similar vein, the Executive Assistant of KID-AFAN Company Limited, Tommy Thomas, highlighted the need for increased support for entrepreneurship and practical skills training, stressing that equipping young people with business knowledge and access to resources would contribute significantly to reducing unemployment and creating sustainable livelihoods across the country.
Also contributing to the discussion, the Media and Communication Officer of TP Group SL, Chuwetta Alditha Cream-Wright, outlined her organization’s efforts to support school-going pupils who face challenges in passing the National Primary School Examination, the Basic Education Certificate Examination and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, explaining that the company has developed a digital learning application known as TP Learning, which provides access to past examination questions to enhance academic performance. Chuwetta Alditha Cream-Wright emphasized that innovation and creativity remain essential tools for young people seeking to succeed in an increasingly competitive environment.
The first roundtable session, moderated by Ambassador Alie Conteh, was held under the theme: “Bridging Policy, Practice and Opportunity for Youth Empowerment” and featured panelists including Kade G. Sow of United for Salone, Alusine Kargbo, Chairman of Susan’s Bay Community, Rashidatu Umarr of Air Sierra Leone and Kenneth G. Campbell, an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative. Discussions during the session focused on youth inclusion in governance and policy-making processes, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and skills development, with panelists also examining the importance of transparency, accountability, innovation and public-private partnerships in advancing youth development.
The second phase of the engagement expanded the conversation to include youth employment, education, innovation, civic engagement, digital transformation and climate-related opportunities, with contributions from Chuwetta Alditha Cream-Wright of TP Group, President of the Sierra Leone Youth Association Junisa Kallon, Tommy Thomas of KID-AFAN Company Limited and Chief Executive Officer of Alphatek Global, Swahho Kanneh. The discussions highlighted the need for coordinated efforts among stakeholders to create an enabling environment for young people to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The event concluded with an interactive networking session during which participants exchanged ideas, built new connections and reaffirmed their collective commitment to shaping a better future for young people in Sierra Leone, reflecting a shared determination to translate dialogue into practical action for sustainable youth empowerment.
