Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, a presidential aspirant and development specialist, has emphasized the need for a coordinated national response to address youth unemployment and substance abuse in Sierra Leone. He argues that the country's youthful population should be developed as an economic resource rather than treated as a social burden. Bangura's call comes amid growing concerns about the pressures facing young people in Sierra Leone.
Bangura's proposed approach includes greater investment in education and technical skills, agriculture, career development, and youth-focused economic programs. He also points to agro-processing and value-chain industries as potential areas for job creation. This approach aligns with the government's Medium-Term National Development Plan, which identifies youth unemployment and substance abuse as linked challenges.
The government's plan calls for expanded labour-market pathways, skills development, and measures to reduce drug abuse among young people. To achieve this, the government has established the Youth Employment Scheme, which aims to create 500,000 employment opportunities for young people by 2030. The program includes job creation, support for businesses, skills development, and measures addressing migration, drug abuse, and youth protection.
Sierra Leone declared a national emergency on drug and substance abuse in 2024, followed by the creation of a multisectoral task force focused on prevention, treatment, social support, law enforcement, and community engagement. The task force aims to address the root causes of substance abuse and provide support to affected individuals.
United Nations analysis has identified unemployment among factors associated with substance abuse, while noting that treatment and rehabilitation services remain insufficient. Bangura's argument places employment policy at the centre of the country's response to substance abuse, calling for young people to be given clearer pathways into productive economic activity.
Bangura emphasizes that a youthful population should be a productive population, and that failure to create meaningful opportunities for young people risks leaving graduates and other unemployed youths without viable economic prospects. His comments coincide with issues already identified in Sierra Leone's national development planning.
The concerns raised by Bangura highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to address youth unemployment and substance abuse in Sierra Leone. The government, development specialists, and other stakeholders must work together to create job opportunities, expand access to education and skills training, and provide support to young people affected by substance abuse.
Key points
- Dr. Ibrahim Bangura calls for a coordinated national response to address youth unemployment and substance abuse as interconnected challenges in Sierra Leone.
- The government's Youth Employment Scheme aims to create 500,000 employment opportunities for young people by 2030.
- United Nations analysis identifies unemployment among factors associated with substance abuse in Sierra Leone.
