By Idrissa Bangura

The Minister of Youth Affairs, Orman Bangura has on Tuesday 15th August, 2023 informed Journalists about his developmental strides over the years at a press conference held at the Ministry of  Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Conference Hall at Tower hill in Freetown.

The Minister expressed thanks and appreciation to President Maada Bio for re-appointing him for the second time to handle the affairs of the youth ministry. He said the president appointed him without asking which tribe or region he come from but because of his track record which enabled the president to refill him in his position.

He emphasized on the need for the youths to embark on agriculture and entrepreneurship, according to him, those skills can easily navigate the day to day needs of the youths of this 21st century. He added that his ministry has trained youths on tractors coupled with the fishing project that added a huge increase in the employment of youths in the country.

Besides the boats project, his ministry has also lunched the car wash project that aided in the employment of youths. He establishes the fact that others may see it as a project that is not in the interest of graduates and skillful youths ‘’but he emphasized that the car wash project has reduced the large number of unskilled and unemployed youths that would have served as a burden of trouble in various communities’’, he lamented.

The Minister continued to remind journalists about the creation of Access to Finance. He also added that the project was created to serve as a platform where young graduate can go in for a loan with just a basic degree without other protocols like collateral. He mentioned that this platform can easily help young graduate to embark on entrepreneurship. In addendum to Access to Finance, the establishment of digital space is another area his ministry has done an immense job in boosting the advancement of youths in skill training.

He also reminded Journalists about the president’s ambition for private sector investment. He said when they are talking about creating jobs it means a multi sectorial issue. That is, government alone cannot provide all the jobs because the amount of job space from government is very small, but with the help of the private sector the unemployment issue can be mitigated, the minister concluded.