National Youth Dialogue

25/09/2025

The National Youth Dialogue 2025 was a powerful platform to amplify the voices of Youths! The gathering of various Steakholders in one room concluded on the note that it is time for a "CALL FOR ACTION ❗"

Youth are the engine of progress, stronger, wiser, and the numbers driving change. Your ideas can shape a nation where young people lead in governance and beyond!

Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts on the challenges, solutions, and perceptions of youth inclusion in governance and in your communities.

Click on the link below and fill out the Survey form to help us build a more inclusive future.

https://forms.gle/gM62dz9QLvprcGiv5

12/09/2025

At this year’s NYD2025, our delegates came together with one goal: to drive change and amplify the voices of young people. Here are some highlights capturing the energy, passion, and commitment of youth leaders across the nation.

10/09/2025

Present at this year’s National Youth Dialogue was the Deputy Minister of Tourism and cultural affairs, Dr. Kadijatu Grace, who delivered a passionate call for young people to embrace responsibility, shift their mindset, and drive national change.

She emphasized that youth must stop waiting for government handouts and instead take ownership of their futures. Whether as carpenters, designers, entrepreneurs, or IT professionals, young people should build their skills, present solutions, and market their talents. “You are not a mistake, you are the future of this nation,” she declared, urging youth to affirm their strength and potential.

Dr. Kamara reminded participants that Sierra Leone, once the “firstborn of West Africa” with the region’s best education system, lost its way due to negative mindsets and missed opportunities. She emphasized that real change will come only when young people organize, collaborate, and hold leaders accountable with evidence and solutions rather than excuses.

She further cautioned against the culture of complaint on social media, noting that not everyone can be a mentor and that meaningful progress starts with self-discipline, self-belief, and purposeful action. Through initiatives like her Part of Hope platform, she continues to spotlight Sierra Leone’s hidden creative talents, proving that young people can achieve greatness when they invest in themselves.

Her message was clear: the days of waiting for pity and handouts are over. Youth inclusion is not optional, it is essential. The future of Sierra Leone belongs to young people, and meaningful participation across all sectors must begin now.

08/09/2025

Present at this year’s National Youth Dialogue was Bai Mahmoud Bangura, who called for a powerful youth-led narrative shift.

He stressed that one of the fastest ways to address challenges is by letting young people tell their own story. With over 60% of Sierra Leone’s population under 35, their inclusion in governance, climate action, and economic opportunities is not optional, it is essential.

Mr. Bangura reminded us that youth are not just leaders of tomorrow, but change-makers of today. He cautioned that neglect of education, health, justice, and opportunity, especially outside Freetown, has deepened exclusion. Yet Sierra Leone’s youth remain resilient, innovative, and ready to lead.

He urged the Dialogue to focus on real issues beyond tribe, politics, and region, and to end tokenism by treating youth as equal partners and co-creators of change.

His message: the era of passivity is over, meaningful youth participation begins now.

03/09/2025

Present at this year’s National Youth Dialogue was the Founder of Under 30 CEOs Africa, Mr. Noel C G Newman, who called for a powerful youth-led narrative shift.

He asserted that one of the fastest ways to address challenges affecting young people is by having youth tell their own story. By convening some of Sierra Leone’s brightest minds, the Dialogue offers a platform to reshape our national narrative, revealing parts of Sierra Leone that have long gone unseen.

He reminded us that young people aren’t just leaders of tomorrow they are the change-makers of today. Faced with urgent issues like climate change, youth unemployment, and governance gaps, youth must be meaningfully included in decision-making processes. They need the skills, platforms, and opportunities to engage in governance, lead climate action, and access sustainable livelihoods. Their energy, innovation, and voices are essential to building a just, resilient, and inclusive society.

He also warned that successive governments have failed to meet the basic needs of many Sierra Leoneans,especially youth outside Freetown by neglecting vital infrastructure in health, education, justice, security, and opportunity access.

Sierra Leone, he argued, deserves selfless leaders of the highest calibre, whose legacies will be honored by future generations.

Finally, he urged the dialogue to focus on real issues, setting aside tribe, region, politics, and personal interests in favor of the common good.

His message: youth inclusion is not optional, it is essential. It’s time to end tokenism and build systems that treat youth as equal partners and co-creators of change. The era of passivity is over youth rightful and meaningful participation across all sectors begins now.

02/09/2025

Present at this year’s National Youth Dialogue was Hon. Ms. Kenyeh Barlay The Minister of Planing and Economic Development, who delivered an insightful statements on Youth inclusion in governance to achieve our nation's Medium Term Development Plan led by government of Sierra Leone.

She emphasized that young people today are standing at critical crossroads in five essential areas: Food, Health, Empowerment, Environmental Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These, she noted, are not isolated challenges but deeply interconnected issues that will determine the future of Sierra Leone.

Hon. Kenyeh Ballay further pointed to a positive shift in governance, observing that most members of the current cabinet are under 40 years old. To her, this is a clear signal that leadership in Sierra Leone is becoming more youthful, dynamic, and responsive to the realities of the younger generation.

She underscored that for young people to truly take ownership of this moment, they must embrace the right set of skills and attributes: innovation, energy, sound decision-making, accountability, climate resilience, sustainable livelihood pathways, and digital entrepreneurship. By cultivating these, youths can position themselves not only as beneficiaries but as the drivers of Sierra Leone’s governance, development, and long-term progress.

01/09/2025

Present at this year's National Youth Dialogue, is the Deputy Governor, Financial Stability, Mr. Alfred W. B Samah.

The theme for today, “Youth Inclusion in Governance, Climate Change, and Livelihood Skills for Young People”, is both timely and highly pertinent.

According to the 2024 estimates from the World Bank and the United Nations Population Division indicate that youth in Sierra Leone, defined as those aged fifteen to thirty-four, constitute approximately sixty-five to seventy per cent of the population.

This vibrant demographic embodies not only the future of our nation but also its present. You are the workforce, the innovators, the digital natives, and the change agents who will steer Sierra Leone’s progress in governance, sustainable development, and economic resilience.

01/09/2025

At this year's National Youth Dialogue, we showcased the rich cultural of Sierra Leone. From innovations to Entrepreneurship, arts to Drama, comedy and Entertainment.

We featured the great minds of Sierra Leonean Youths.

A major highlight of the day was a surprise performance from the Deputy Minister of Tourism, which thrilled the audience and reminded everyone of the power of culture in shaping governance and unity.

Comedians brought laughter and lightness to the event, while DJs kept the energy alive with music that had participants on their feet.

The event was hosted by dynamic MC who kept the program flowing with energy and spirit, marking a fitting close to our powerful conversations on youth inclusion in governance.

The National Youth Dialogue was the gathering of true leaders

31/08/2025

30/08/2025

It occurred to us that the one of the fastest way to tell the story of young people, settle their challenges, is by bring the young people together, to discuss.

At this year's NationalYouthDialogue, we gathered
together some of the smartest and brightest of minds across the country to reshape our narrative as
a people. We showcased the path of Sierra Leone that has not been seen ever since independence.

We had bold conversations that will help us rise above the ashes as young people. We are the potentials of this great nation.

30/08/2025

Yesterday at the National Youth Dialogue (NYD), young leaders, policymakers, and changemakers came together for a powerful conversation on youth inclusion in governance. The dialogue, hosted by Antonia Howard, centered on how young people can shape policies and systems that reflect their priorities and future aspirations.

The session brought together a dynamic group of speakers and participants who shared insights, experiences, and practical recommendations. They addressed a central challenge: how to strengthen youth participation in decision-making processes in ways that reduce exclusion, unlock opportunities, and empower young people to take full ownership of their role in national development.

The conversation made it clear that Sierra Leone’s youth are not only stepping up but are ready to lead with credibility, innovation, and resilience.

What emerged was a shared conviction that meaningful youth inclusion begins with trust in young people’s expertise, solutions, and capacity to drive and sustain progress.