𝐁𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐮 𝐉𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐡 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐱).
Sierra Leone, a nation once ravaged by war, now stands at the precipice of a new crisis, one that threatens the very heartbeat of its existence – its youth. As someone deeply entrenched in the youth sector of Sierra Leone, I speak with authority when I say that our nation is on the brink of a severe heart attack, brought about by the neglect and disregard for its most vital asset – its young people.
It is disheartening to witness the current state of affairs in Sierra Leone, where the generation that should be the driving force of progress and development is being systematically discarded and ignored. Many of our youths were born after the war, shielded from its horrors, but also deprived of the valuable lessons it taught. They are a generation adrift, unaware of the dangers that lurk and the sacrifices that were made for the peace they enjoy today.
Instead of nurturing and empowering our youth, we see a landscape dominated by empty promises and superficial projects. The rhetoric of job creation and development rings hollow when the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture. Initiatives like the Free Quality Education system, touted as a beacon of hope, have failed to deliver meaningful results, leaving our young people ill-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
Meanwhile, the political elite engage in self-serving agendas, prioritizing personal ambitions over the welfare of the nation. The spectacle of power plays and maneuverings only serves to deepen the disillusionment felt by our youth, who see their future being decided by individuals more concerned with their own advancement than the collective well-being of the country.
Even if we were to miraculously attract industries and investment to our shores, what good would it do if our youth remain unskilled and marginalized? We are facing a crisis of employability, where a generation is being condemned to a cycle of poverty, despair and drug abuse “KUSH” dependency.
The consequences of this neglect are clear – a nation on the verge of collapse, teetering on the edge of a precipice. The heartbeats of Sierra Leone are slowing, and unless urgent action is taken, we risk plunging into chaos and instability.
It is time for those in power to wake up to the reality of the situation and prioritize the needs of our youth. We cannot afford to continue down this path of neglect and indifference. Our nation’s future depends on it. It’s time to invest in our youth, to nurture their potential, and to empower them to be the architects of Sierra Leone’s destiny. Anything less would be a betrayal of our nation’s promise and a tragedy for generations to come
