In a bid to tackle unemployment and close skill gaps in Sierra Leone, 50 youths have been certified in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) training. The certification ceremony, held on September 13, 2024, at Eastern Polytechnic, Freetown, marked a milestone in an initiative funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) aimed at boosting youth employability.
Trainees like Alphan Amara Kamara and Victoria Pettiquoi shared how the training has transformed their technical understanding and career prospects. Kamara, with over a decade of experience in refrigeration, noted the value of finally grasping equipment details, while Pettiquoi, a first-time participant in such a program, expressed hope for broadening her client base.
Principal of the Freetown Polytechnic, Tamba Moriba, urged graduates to leverage their skills not just for employment but also for entrepreneurship. He highlighted the importance of skilled labor in addressing Sierra Leone’s unemployment challenge.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Ramatulai Wurie, emphasized the broader impact of such initiatives on human capital development and praised the Government’s Big Five Agenda for addressing youth unemployment. She affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a driver of economic development and youth empowerment across the country.
