By Edward Dictionary Caulker
In a landmark moment for youth empowerment in Sierra Leone and across the continent, the Plan International Youth Advisory Panel officially presented the West and Central Africa Youth Conakry Declaration to the Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, on Friday, 15th August 2025, at Plan International’s country office in Freetown.
The Conakry Declaration, born out of the Regional Forum of Youth Advisory Panels (YAPs) held in Guinea from May 27–30, 2025, stands as a bold manifesto of youth aspirations and commitments to shaping Africa’s future. It outlines a roadmap for strengthening youth participation in governance, peace-building, education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.
Structured around seven priority areas; security, governance, regional integration, education and training, employment and entrepreneurship, health, and environment and sustainable development the declaration provides concrete and measurable recommendations for states, civil society, and development partners.
With input from over 200 young leaders representing 15 countries across West and Central Africa, the document reflects the collective vision of a new generation determined to move beyond consultation to meaningful influence and transformative change.
Presenting the declaration, Lucia Samuella Lavally, representative of Sierra Leone’s Youth Advisory Panel, emphasized its significance, noting that the declaration symbolizes a generation committed not only to dialogue but to shaping policies and driving sustainable impact. She described it as a roadmap for youth to stand as equal partners in Africa’s development journey.
Muniratu Issifu, Country Director of Plan International Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the organization’s long-standing dedication to amplifying youth voices. She explained that as Plan International launches its new five-year country strategy, prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in Sierra Leone in 2026, and marks the start of a new financial year, the declaration could not have come at a better time.
According to her, it reinforces Plan’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with young people to ensure their ideas shape national and regional development agendas. She further revealed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Plan International and the Ministry of Youth Affairs is being updated to reflect current realities, strengthen youth leadership programs, and expand opportunities in skills development and livelihoods.
In his remarks, Minister Ibrahim Sannoh praised the young leaders for their dedication, drawing on his own personal journey into politics as a student in 2005. He stressed that “mind transformation is key for our society right now,” cautioning that too many young people are lured into drugs and substance abuse, thereby destroying their potential.
He called on the youth to stand as ambassadors of positive change and trailblazers in governance, climate action, entrepreneurship, and beyond. The Minister assured that his ministry remains committed to aligning youth development initiatives through the renewed MoU with Plan International, ensuring standardized, impactful youth programs across the country.
The event concluded with the official signing of the MoU and a symbolic group photo, cementing a strengthened partnership between government, civil society, and young people. Together, they pledged to transform the vision of the Conakry Declaration into tangible results for Sierra Leone and the wider region.
As Sierra Leone looks ahead, the declaration represents not just a policy document, but a generational call to action a promise that young people are not the future, but the present, of Africa’s development.
