By Forum staff writer
The National Youth Commission NAYCOM in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme UNDP has graduated 250 young women who successfully completed skills development and technical training programmes at the Armed Forces Technical College AFTEC in Freetown.
The ceremony marked the fifth graduation under the partnership and represented another milestone in efforts to equip young people especially women with practical skills that can lead to employment and self-reliance. The six month training focused on non-traditional technical fields that have long been dominated by men.
The graduates received training in automobile engineering building and construction solar and renewable energy electrical and electronics engineering welding and fabrication and building and civil engineering. At the end of the programme NAYCOM presented start up kits to all graduates to help them establish their own ventures and put their newly acquired skills into practice.
Speaking at the ceremony Minister of Youth Affairs Ibrahim Sannoh congratulated the graduates for their determination and resilience. He urged them to uphold high moral values discipline and professionalism as they transition into the world of work. The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to youth empowerment and assured the graduates that the ministry will continue to pursue programmes that create jobs and expand opportunities for young people across Sierra Leone.
National Youth Commissioner Joseph Maada described the programme as a clear demonstration of NAYCOM’s mandate to promote youth development through skills training and self employment. He encouraged the graduates to become ambassadors of change in their communities by using their skills to create livelihoods not only for themselves but also for others.
The UNDP representative Fredrick Appiah commended AFTEC for its continued role in empowering young people through technical education. He reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting initiatives that target women returnees and single mothers noting that empowering women is key to inclusive economic growth and national development. He said programmes such as this help reduce vulnerability and unemployment while strengthening community resilience.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education Haja Ramatulai Wurrie praised the collaboration between NAYCOM UNDP and AFTEC and pledged continued government support to technical and vocational institutions. She emphasized that skills based education remains a critical tool in addressing unemployment and bridging the gap between education and the labour market.
Deputy Minister of Defence Retired Colonel Moana Brima Massaquoi expressed appreciation to all partners and sponsors who supported the programme. He highlighted AFTEC’s contribution to national development through training and skills transfer and encouraged stakeholders to sustain such partnerships for the benefit of young people.
The graduation ceremony underscored the growing emphasis on non-traditional skills training as a pathway to economic independence for young women. Through initiatives like this NAYCOM continues to advance youth empowerment by promoting self-employment and enabling young people to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the country’s development agenda.
