By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Government of Sierra Leone reaffirmed its dedication to education and human capital development during a recent meeting with a high-level delegation from the African Union Development Agency and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD). The session, held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), aimed to explore strategic collaboration on skills development, gender inclusion, and education reform.
Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, emphasized the government’s commitment by highlighting its allocation of 22 percent of the national budget to the education sector. “This signals our unwavering commitment to transforming education and preparing our youth for the demands of a rapidly evolving job market,” she stated.
The meeting underscored Sierra Leone’s alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous and integrated Africa driven by its citizens. Dr. Wurie referred to the ministry as the “finishing house” for youth development, reinforcing the importance of educational initiatives.
Mr. Norman Khoza, representing AUDA-NEPAD, pledged ongoing support for Sierra Leone’s development priorities, noting the strong alignment between the country’s “Big Five Game Changers”—human capital development, agriculture, youth employment, infrastructure, and digital transformation—and the AU’s agenda. He stressed the importance of co-creating programs with local institutions and addressing systemic barriers to empower youth through initiatives like the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA).
Additionally, Susan Dada, a member of the AUDA-NEPAD delegation, highlighted the agency’s commitment to advocating for vulnerable populations, particularly youth and women, through the Social Development Cluster. She emphasized the role of preserving and promoting African cultural heritage as a vehicle for social transformation.
The meeting concluded with technical presentations from Khoza, Nqobile Zwane, Nonkululeko Mtimunye, and Dada, showcasing AUDA-NEPAD’s flagship programs, including the African Critical Skills Bank, World Skills Africa, Industrial Skills Week Africa, the Continental TVET Strategy, and the Sustainable Nutrition and Value Chain (SNVC) initiative. This engagement marks a significant step toward enhanced cooperation between the government and AUDA-NEPAD in building a future-ready workforce equipped with the skills, knowledge, and resilience necessary to drive both national and continental development.
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