By Osman Marah
The Patriotic Advocacy Network (PAN) has on 19th August, 2026 launched the latest edition of its Leadership and Public Speaking Masterclass (LPMC); an initiative aimed at equipping young Sierra Leoneans with leadership, communication and other practical skills.
Speaking during the launch at PAN’s new office in Freetown, PAN Co-Founder, Ansumana Keita Esq., said the organization is a civic movement and not a non-governmental organization.
He said PAN, which was established in 2013, focuses on identifying societal problems and mobilizing communities to find solutions, with the empowerment of young people at the centre of its work.
According to Keita, PAN believes that empowering young people is critical to changing systems and creating a better society. He said the organization’s Catch Them Young campaign currently operates in more than 100 senior secondary schools across the country, while PAN has a membership of more than 1,000 people.
Keita explained that the Leadership and Public Speaking Masterclass was introduced in 2024 after PAN identified a growing interest among young people in leadership, but also noticed significant gaps in leadership and communication skills.
The first edition in 2024 trained and certified 100 young people, while the second edition in 2025 trained and certified 150 participants.
He said PAN also introduced LPMC Talks, a five-minute presentation platform designed to give participants an opportunity to develop and present their own ideas as part of the programme’s assessment.
Keita described the masterclass as an intensive and transformational training platform focused on ethical leadership, integrity, vision, communication and understanding the responsibilities and pressures that come with leadership.
He emphasized that effective leadership is not necessarily about being a great orator, but about being an effective communicator.
This year, PAN is expanding the programme to include areas such as financial management, financial independence, problem-solving, critical thinking, ethical use of artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence, work ethics, email communication, audience engagement and pitching ideas.
Keita said the programme will feature a total of 20 modules, with 10 focused on leadership and 10 on public speaking.
The organizers are also bringing together facilitators from different professional backgrounds to train and mentor participants throughout the programme.
Keita said the ultimate objective is to prepare young people with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to become responsible leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals who can contribute meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s development.
