By Abubakarr Harding
In his fight to end violence in the country, one of Sierra Leone’s Youth Ambassadors, Mohamed Neimagah Lamin has on Sunday 9th October, 2022 engaged youths during a non-violence sensitization campaign at the John James Complex on Ross Road in the East End of Freetown.
The Youth Ambassador, Mohamed Neimagah Lamin, addressed the young people cautioning them not to allow themselves to be used as willing puppets by do-or-die politicians or pessimistic agitators who wish to cause unrest in the nation.
Mohamed Neimagah Lamin stated, “I call on every youth to reject every approach from persons who foment unlawful demonstrations and politicians who recruit them for political violence.”
According to Lamin, as young people, they must uphold the principles of political dynamism and eliminate all elements that impede democracy in Sierra Leone, such as ballot snatching, looting, illegal demonstrations, and the like. He claimed that a sizable portion of the working and voting population is made up of young people. In addition, young people will be the group of people who will be most affected by any tragic circumstance. Therefore, they must take all necessary precautions to ensure future survival and wellbeing, participate actively in the democratic process, and choose the people who will lead them, keeping in mind that voting is a civic obligation that every Sierra Leonean is required to do.
He noted that although it differs across nations young people also face poverty, obstacles to education, multiple forms of discrimination, and limited employment prospects and opportunities. Because of these, he said, youths must take the initiative to be nonviolent and dedicated to peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
“Other people must be impressed by our ability, wisdom, and commitment to improving Sierra Leone,” he enjoined them.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the National Council For Civic Education and Dev (NaCCED), Hindolo John-Langba, stated that President Bio, on his first parliamentary opening speech stated that the only way this nation will move ahead is when the citizens are well informed of their rights and responsibilities stating that’s was the reason why the National Council For Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) was established as an institution.
He added that in their existence as an institution they have been doing things that draw the attention of young people disclosing how since thirty year down the line civic education was not in vogue but said the President has incorporated it in the school syllabus this year and related books to civic education have been supplied to pupils.
According to John-Langba, civic education gives one civility and enables you to get civic disposition underscoring that as citizens they must tolerate and accept one another’s opinions and decision when it comes to politics or in any other aspect.
Making mention of the August 10 incident, John-Langba stated that it was unfortunate because he knows the nation to a law-abiding entity and that the youth must see law enforcers as friends or fellow Sierra Leoneans and not enemies.
