UNIDO, Sierra Leone, and Japan Inaugurate Automotive Training Centre to Boost Youth Employment
By: Sorie Sesay
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and with funding from the Government of Japan, officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Automotive Training at Freetown Polytechnic’s Kissy Campus. The initiative aims to enhance youth employment and address the demand for skilled labor in key economic sectors.
The newly launched centre is the first in Sierra Leone to offer a nationally accredited, competency-based curriculum in automotive maintenance and entrepreneurship. With an annual training capacity of 200 young technicians and an additional 200 participants in entrepreneurship, the centre is poised to significantly impact youth employability, particularly for women and marginalized groups.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Virpi Stucki, Chief of UNIDO’s Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade, emphasized the importance of continued collaboration. “This inauguration marks an important milestone, but our work continues,” she said. “Automotive businesses can offer job placements and apprenticeships, and vocational institutions can scale this impact further.”
Stucki also highlighted the strategic role of the initiative in supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stating that the centre will help prepare Sierra Leonean youth for regional opportunities in trade, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Japan’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Mr. Hiroshi Yoshimoto, reaffirmed Japan’s long-standing commitment to Sierra Leone’s development across multiple sectors including health, agriculture, education, and infrastructure. “This facility is not just a building but a symbol of sustained cooperation. It aligns with Sierra Leone’s Midterm National Development Plans for 2019 and 2023, particularly focusing on human capital and youth empowerment,” he noted.
Minister of Youth Affairs, Mr. Ibrahim Sannoh, described the centre as a critical step toward solving the country’s youth unemployment challenges. “This is the Sierra Leone we want—where young people are empowered with skills and new opportunities,” he said, urging youths to take full advantage of the centre’s offerings.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Minister and Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, lauded the centre as a testament to the government’s commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development. “Today’s inauguration is a significant step toward achieving our Big Five Agenda, national development goals, and sustainable development targets,” he stated.
The automotive training centre is expected to play a pivotal role in building an inclusive and resilient workforce in Sierra Leone, aligning skills development with labor market needs and promoting economic growth through innovation and technical advancement.
