By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Leone Rock Metal Group has reaffirmed its commitment to youth employment and skills development following a high level engagement with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the National Youth Commission in Tonkolili District on 23 February 2026.
The strategic visit focused on strengthening collaboration between government and the private sector, with particular emphasis on how large scale mining companies like Leone Rock can play a central role in building sustainable employment opportunities for young people in Sierra Leone. Leone Rock Metal Group, one of the country’s largest private employers with a workforce of over 10,000, was highlighted as a critical partner in advancing the national youth development agenda.
The delegation from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the National Youth Commission was led by the Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Sannoh, alongside National Youth Commissioner Joseph Maada Lahai and senior technical officials. They were received by Leone Rock’s Deputy General Manager and management team, who welcomed the engagement and described it as timely and necessary in aligning industrial growth with national human capital development.
Leone Rock management outlined the company’s ongoing efforts to create employment opportunities for young Sierra Leoneans, particularly in technical and operational roles within the mining value chain. Discussions explored ways to further expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training opportunities for young workers, ensuring that skills acquired on the job are formally recognized and certified.
A key area of focus was the certification of skills through the National Council for Technical, Vocational and Other Academic Awards, which would allow young workers trained at Leone Rock to gain nationally recognized qualifications. This, company officials noted, would not only enhance productivity within the mining sector but also improve long term employability for youths beyond the life span of individual projects.
The engagement also reviewed the Obasanjo Skills Training initiative as a platform that Leone Rock could leverage and scale up. Practical training areas such as solar technology, mining equipment operation and crushing technology were identified as priority skills where the company has both capacity and infrastructure to train young people effectively.
Leone Rock expressed readiness to work closely with government institutions to design structured training programs that respond directly to industry needs. Management emphasized that investing in youth skills is essential for operational efficiency, local content development and maintaining strong community relations in mining areas.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs described the Leone Rock engagement as a pilot model that could be replicated across the extractive sector. According to officials, lessons learned from the partnership with Leone Rock will inform future engagements with other mining companies nationwide, with the goal of expanding access to skills training and decent employment for young people.
Both parties also acknowledged the broader national vision on job creation and youth empowerment, expressing appreciation for the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio in prioritizing youth development as a pillar of national growth.
Concluding the visit, Minister Ibrahim Sannoh commended Leone Rock for its openness and commitment, stressing that meaningful youth empowerment requires certified, industry relevant skills that translate into sustainable livelihoods. The delegation later toured the mining site to observe operations and training facilities firsthand, reinforcing Leone Rock’s role as a key partner in Sierra Leone’s youth employment drive.
