By: Aminata Sesay
The Government of Sierra Leone has taken concrete steps to strengthen technical and vocational skills development, with plans to upgrade Obasanjo Skills College as part of a broader youth skills expansion drive aimed at improving employability and sustainable livelihoods.
The move follows an engagement by the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MOYA) and the National Youth Commission (NAYCOM) with the management of the institution, in line with Government’s national agenda to modernise youth-focused Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Leading the delegation, the Minister of Youth Affairs, alongside senior officials from MOYA and NAYCOM, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to expanding access to practical, market-driven skills that directly respond to labour market demands and emerging economic sectors.
Founded in 2005 under a South-South Cooperation initiative, Obasanjo Skills College has evolved into a recognized centre for hands-on skills training. Fully accredited by the National Council for Technical, Vocational and Other Academic Awards (NCTVA), the institution operates seven academic departments offering 24 programmes, more than 80 percent of which are practically oriented.
The programmes cover high-demand areas including Solar and Renewable Energy, Information Technology, and Art and Design.
The college currently serves 240 students. Female participation stands at 27 percent, underscoring both the progress made and the continued need for inclusive strategies to encourage greater participation of young women in technical and vocational fields.
Addressing the engagement, NAYCOM Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Maada Lahai, highlighted reforms already undertaken to stabilize and strengthen the institution. These include the clearance of long-standing staff salary arrears and the implementation of a 300 percent salary increment, measures aimed at improving staff welfare, motivation, and the overall quality of training delivery.
The Minister of Youth Affairs, Mr. Ibrahim Sannoh, commended NAYCOM’s leadership in repositioning the college and announced Government’s plans to facilitate its affiliation with all technical universities in Sierra Leone. This initiative is expected to enhance academic mobility for students, strengthen accreditation, and elevate the national standing of the institution.
Describing Obasanjo Skills College as a youth-owned investment in the nation’s future, the Minister reaffirmed Government’s belief in skills-based education as a foundation for job creation, innovation, and long-term economic growth.
The visit concluded with a tour of the campus, during which officials interacted with students and staff, assessed training facilities, and identified priority infrastructure and programme needs.
The engagement signals Government’s continued resolve to place skills development at the centre of youth empowerment, while transforming TVET institutions into catalysts for inclusive growth and sustainable development across Sierra Leone.