By Abdulai Fasineh Dumbuya
Sierra Leone’s Head of State, addressing a forum of the OPEC Fund for International Development, has spoken of his government’s commitment towards a partnership that will support robust, sustainable, and inclusive energy growth and reaffirmed dedication to his Big Five Game Changers in Sierra Leone.
President Bio made this statement on June 25, 2024, whilst delivering a speech on pressing global issues such as climate change, food insecurity, extreme poverty, gender inequality, educational deficit, and energy insecurity.
As a keynote speaker, he said his government has made human capital development a cornerstone of his development agenda and called on international development partners to support his drive and plans towards the rolling out of the five pillars of his development agenda.
Feed Salone to boost agricultural activities and ensure food security, human capital development based on inclusive skills and a healthy population, youth employment scheme to provide 500,000 new jobs for the youths, according to President Bio, are all crucial to his dedication to his agenda and human development in Sierra Leone.
He also spoke of technology and infrastructure development, digitalization, and transformation of the public sector architecture to ensure efficiency and professionalism in the public sector.
“For my government human capital development includes expanding better health services for all citizens and ensuring food security. The big five game changers provide the strategic direction towards sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development. We are gradually introducing universal food feeding,” he said.
He noted that in Sub-saharan countries – a vast aspect of the things they are most challenged – include the lack of access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy services. He added that climate change and resilient energy are urgent and pressing issues that demand the immediate attention of Africans and global development partners, which he said are all part of his presidential initiatives.
He acknowledged that access to more energy services is the key to leveraging opportunities provided by technologies and innovations and said they cannot afford to delay in addressing the challenges associated with them.
He said that it is important to work together to achieve a shared vision of a prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts and unwavering commitments to make the world a better place.
Meanwhile, President Bio secured USSD$800 million pledges at the High-level Sierra Leone Investment Roundtable on Renewable Energy and food security in Vienna, Austria. He then reaffirmed his dedication to working collaboratively with the OPEC Fund and all International Development partners to build a brighter future for Sierra Leone.
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