By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, 13th March, 2026 — Former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has challenged Sierra Leonean youths to take ownership of Africa’s future by driving climate action and sustainable development.
Speaking at a packed leadership symposium at the Miatta Civic Center in Freetown, Osinbajo told participants that Africa must chart its own path to industrialisation without repeating the mistakes of the West. “If Africa industrialises the way the West did, by 2050 we will be responsible for 75 percent of global emissions. That would be a disaster,” he warned.
The symposium, organised by Future Perspectives in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, focused on youth leadership and African ownership in energy, health, and agriculture. It brought together young people, government officials, and development partners.
Osinbajo, who co‑founded Future Perspectives, said the organisation is committed to channelling capital to young innovators. He stressed that Africa must not rely solely on external funding but should build local climate investment systems. “Africa is not the problem — Africa is the solution to the global climate challenge,” he declared.
Opening the event, Timothy Sam, Director of Civic Education at MOICE, urged young people to move beyond consuming information to creating solutions. He tied the conversation to the Sustainable Development Goals, noting that empowering youth with entrepreneurial skills is key to building Africa’s next economy.
Representatives of Future Perspectives highlighted their work in climate education and youth empowerment, encouraging participants to ask tough questions and push for change.
In his closing remarks, Osinbajo pointed to opportunities in climate investment, particularly in data collection and analysis. “Information is power. If we can generate the data others rely on, Africa will not just participate in the climate conversation; we will lead it,” he said.
