On the 12th of March, 2025, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, and Dr. Thoai Ngo had a conversation on PopTalks at Columbia University in New York, highlighting Sierra Leone’s innovative approaches to empowering its youth, particularly Generation Z, through education, health, and equity to address global challenges like climate change and social inequality.
Minister Chernor Bah highlighted Sierra Leone’s commitment to empowering its young population through education, emphasizing that the country allocates over 20% of its budget to education, focusing on STEM for girls, free school lunches, and banning school fees in public schools. This has led to increased literacy rates and university enrollments.
In advancing the welfare of women and girls, Minister Bah noted that the government has also implemented policies to promote gender equality, such as requiring at least 30% of political appointees to be women, banning child marriage, and criminalizing female genital mutilation. These efforts aim to lift women and girls out of poverty.
On climate resilience, Bah spoke about Sierra Leone’s vulnerability to climate change. To address this, he said the nation has adopted innovative solutions like heat-reflective roofing and leveraging technology (e.g., solar-powered smartphones) to address challenges like extreme heat and deforestation. “We are open, and we are progressing, and we are willing to take risks to try and see what works, with technology solutions that help solve real problems for real people who need it the most,” Bah said.
Minister Bah cited Sierra Leone’s traditional practice of planting trees for newborns, which contributes to climate change. The minister describes this practice as something that represents what true Sierra Leoneans are.
Empowering the youth, especially Gen Z, Minister Bah emphasized that Gen Z, being globally connected and aware, is critical to Sierra Leone’s future. He pointed out that the government focuses on fostering hope and citizenship through food security, public health, digital literacy, and climate action. Minister Bah expressed optimism about Gen Z’s ability to drive change, citing their awareness of global issues and demand for better governance. Sierra Leone’s approach involves systematic investment in youth and creating opportunities to overcome challenges.
Sierra Leone’s policies demonstrate how investing in education, gender equity, and climate resilience can empower young people to tackle global crises and build a more equitable and sustainable future.
© Ministry of Information and Civic Education
