Young people in Sierra Leone have been urged to prioritise skills development and continuous learning if they want to compete for jobs and leadership opportunities.
The message was delivered during a panel discussion held at the 8th National Science and Leadership Festival in Kabala, organised by Project 1808, Inc..
The panel discussion was titled “From harnessing culture to building a sense of identity, patriotism and national cohesion: Is the current young generation of Sierra Leoneans adequately prepared to drive transformative leadership, service, and change across all sectors?”
Speaking at the event, Joseph Akoi Bore, a panellist from Guinea, told the audience that only young people who are fully prepared will be able to secure jobs in today’s competitive world.
To explain his point, Dr Bore carried out a practical demonstration. He raised a Le20 note and asked how many people wanted the money, drawing many raised hands. When he asked how many had a CV ready, the number dropped. Fewer hands went up when he asked who could speak both English and French, and the number reduced further when he asked about computer literacy. Almost no one responded when he asked who among them was a programmer.
According to him, the exercise showed the gap between desire and readiness.
“The reason I am saying this is because we must always be ready,” he said. “Only the most prepared will get jobs, and we can only do that by learning new things every day.
”Dr Bore added that he personally commits to learning new skills every year, encouraging young people to adopt lifelong learning, especially in digital skills, languages and technology.
The panel was part of activities at the Project 1808 National Science and Leadership Festival, a three-day event that brings together pupils, university students, professionals, traditional leaders and innovators. The festival blends science, technology, engineering, environment, arts, mathematics and medicine with leadership, entrepreneurship and culture.
Project 1808 aims to promote African identity, innovation and self-reliance by combining indigenous knowledge with modern science and leadership development.
Other panellists at the session included Ayo Johnson, Daniella Kargbo, Ariefa Bockarie Kumara, Sheku D. Massaquoi, Esther Feima Kamara, Hamidu Mansaray and Sydnella Pratt.
The discussion ended with a call on young Sierra Leoneans to combine cultural values with practical skills, discipline and continuous learning to drive national development and meaningful change.
