Vice President Victor Foh has called on all politicians to assist the youths for the development of the country.

As Sierra Leone joined other countries to celebrate International Youths day, during the commemoration held in Kambia, Vice President Victor Foh has called on all politicians to assist the youths for the development of the country.

This year’s events organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the National Youth Commission and their partners discussed issues around the global theme “eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable productions and consumption by 2030” and the local theme “engaging youth entrepreneurship and agri-business for poverty reduction.”
In his address, VP Foh appreciated the youths for their turnout and also for the work they have been doing adding that for any action their must be responsibilities, therefore when the government put systems in place for the youths it is their responsibility to ensure that they use it for their benefit and that of the country.

He stated that there are a lot of youths manning the affairs of the government, and so he can proudly say they have proved well, citing the presenting Youth Affairs Minister Bai Mahmoud Bangura whom he said has made positive impact in the ministry.
The Vice President further called on politicians to render help to the youths as without the help of the politicians the youths will not develop. He added that assistance should not only come in the form of money but also training facilities, capacity building and job creation.
The Minister of Youth Affairs Bai Mahmoud Bangura highlighted some of the projects they have instituted for youths and this includes the youth farm and youth in fisheries and these projects create job opportunity for the youths.


He said the two projects do not only benefit the youths but the country as a whole as they have helped greatly in the area of agriculture. He added that together with the Youth Commission they are implementing the graduate internship program for university graduates. The Minister said recently some youths were even sent to China for an exchange programme which are important in the youth career development.

The Country Director of UNAIDS Dr Michael Gboun gave a background of the celebration as he said the day is aimed at promoting, empowering and recognising youths “who if given effective and equal access to opportunities will contribute to the prosperity and development of the country.”
He said with the scale of unemployment and underemployment, especially of young people is serious developmental concern as “approximately 70% of the young population are either unemployed or underemployed.”

The UNAIDS Country Director said one challeng that youths are faced with is teenage pregnancy and this is affecting the health and socio-economic progress of women and girls.