Says Deputy Youth Affairs Minister
June 8, 2018
Deputy Youth Affairs Minister sharing President Bio’s vision
The Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs-Lusine Kallon has cautioned stakeholders in Kenema Town, Nongowa Chiefdom that the abuse of youth by “some rogue politicians” must stop under the New Direction.
Speaking yesterday (7th June 2018) at the National Youth Service Planning Meeting organsed at the Kenema District hall, the Deputy Youth Affairs Minister averred that during the 2018 national elections “youth were brain washed to vote on tribal and regional lines for the advantage of some rogue politicians.” He added that, “those youth were misused and later abandoned by their political god fathers.” In a very optimistic mood, he said this attitude must stop.
“We are joining the President to change this situation and make youth as partners in development,” he said whilst adding that, “We are here to make our youth as a useful component in rolling out the New Direction agenda.”
Sharing President Julius Maada Bio’s vision with the District stakeholders, he said the New Direction manifesto could be best described as the People’s Manifesto because it was developed based on a consultative dialogue with the people of Sierra Leone including the youth.
According to him, the Youth Service Scheme has a lot of opportunities for both the youth and the society.
Highlighting some of the benefits of the National Youth Scheme, the Deputy Youth Affairs Minister said, it serves as a bridge of unity through Intermarriages. He said if this is achieved, it will mitigate the idea of preaching tribalism or regionalism in the country.
He went further to state that, “it is here to promote awareness and a peaceful co-existence among all tribes, political groups and religious groups.”
The Paramount Chief of Small Bo Chiefdom commended the imitative and promised to support the Ministry of Youth Affairs to ensure this vision is achieved.
Paramount Chief Daffie Banya said this initiative has long started in other Africa countries and many are enjoy the successful implementation of the scheme.
Among the high powered delegation were the Director of the Youth Service Scheme-Mohamed Pateh Bah, District Council Chairman-Mohamed Olevel Sesay, NYS Consultant Dr. Lawrence Sandy, Civil Society representatives and journalists from different media houses.