Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A new Centre of Excellence for Automotive Training has been officially inaugurated at Freetown Polytechnic’s Kissy Campus in Freetown.
The initiative is a partnership between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MoYA), and is funded by the Government of Japan.
Under the theme “Promoting Youth Employment through Automotive Maintenance Skills Training,” the center aims to empower young people, with a particular focus on women and marginalized groups. It will provide hands-on training in automotive maintenance and entrepreneurship designed to meet current demands in the labor market.
Speaking at the inauguration, UNIDO Country Representative in Sierra Leone, Mariatu Abionor Swaray, hailed the event as a significant step in empowering the nation’s youth.
She emphasized that the initiative, supported by the Government of Japan, would help bridge the skills gap in the automotive repair and maintenance industry, unlocking the potential of young people. Swaray expressed gratitude to key government ministers for their collaboration.
H.E. Hiroshi Yoshimoto, the Ambassador of Japan to Sierra Leone, expressed his pleasure in participating in the launch of the youth empowerment initiative. He conveyed Japan’s pride in the partnership and thanked UNIDO for its technical expertise and leadership in the project, also acknowledging the support of MTHE and MoYA.
Ambassador Yoshimoto highlighted the initiative as an example of the multi-sectoral collaboration needed for sustainable development and a continuation of the strong relationship between Japan and Sierra Leone.
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Patrick George, described the inauguration as an exciting moment, emphasizing the commitment of stakeholders to provide leadership, best practices, research, support, and training to young people, whom he called key drivers of economic growth.
He noted the Ministry’s work on “Status of Youth Reports” to analyze challenges and opportunities for young people and stated the center would inspire youth to move to the forefront of national development, echoing President Bio’s prioritization of youth.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, underscored the center’s timely response to a growing national demand for skilled automotive professionals, calling it a hub for innovation and excellence in workforce development. She thanked President Bio for his visionary leadership.
Students of Freetown Polytechnic, Foday S. Kamara and Posseh M. Kamara, along with trainer Dauda S. Bangura, shared testimonies about the project’s positive impact.
Chief Minister, Dr. David Sengeh, delivered the keynote address, stating that the center marked another significant step towards achieving the country’s Big Five agenda, National Development Plan, and Sustainable Development Goals.
He emphasized the initiative’s grounding in inclusion, shared prosperity, and human capital development, highlighting the importance of a skilled youth population for national progress. Dr. Sengeh also shared an inspiring anecdote about one of the beneficiaries, Posseh Kamara, praising her perseverance.
The inauguration concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a guided tour of the new training facility.
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