By: Claudia Redwood-Sawyerr
The Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Patrick Michaelson Gibrilla, has called on young people in Makeni city to believe in their capacity to lead and make a positive impact. He made these remarks during the opening day of the Civic Day Series in Makeni on Monday, 15th September 2025.
Deputy Minister Gibrilla urged the youth to seize opportunities, take responsibility, and inspire change within their communities. “You are not too young to lead. As young people, you should believe in yourselves and step up to make a difference,” he stated.
Highlighting the achievements of young leaders in society, Gibrilla pointed out that several young ministers are now key figures driving positive transformation through their work.
The Deputy Minister also provided an update on the Ministry’s efforts to promote youth empowerment and create more employment opportunities, both locally and internationally. He revealed that the government is in advanced discussions to establish a Youth Entrepreneurship Bank, designed to offer credit to young entrepreneurs at a low interest rate. Furthermore, the government is working on acquiring electric vehicles as part of its strategy to create jobs for young people.
“We have already identified a location in Makeni for an electric vehicle charging station,” Gibrilla noted. “These vehicles will need to be recharged after every 200 kilometers, and this initiative will create sustainable jobs for our youth.”
PC Massa Yeli Tham III of Gbanti Chiefdom in Bombali District welcomed the initiative, praising the Ministry for organizing events across the country, especially in his district. He encouraged young people to embrace the opportunity and take responsibility to bring about positive change in their communities.