By Ibrahim Mansaray
Freetown, 27th January 2026- The Peace Mission Training Centre at Hastings, Freetown, welcomed the eighth batch of National Youth Service recruits, numbering 445 and counting, on Monday, January 26th, 2026.
The NYS, a 21-day training programme, was established by an Act of Parliament in 2016 but officially launched in 2018 by President Julius Maada Bio, who promised to review and implement the program in his maiden speech to Parliament. The first batch, comprising 200 recruits (40% women, 60% men), set the tone for the program’s mission to empower young Sierra Leoneans.
The Commandant of PMTC, in his welcome address thanked the Minister of Youth Affairs for his support and urged continued collaboration between the Ministry and NYS. He also advised recruits to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum.
Minister of Youth Affairs Ibrahim Sannoh kicked off his speech with the slogan “The National Youth Service where destinies are shaped and transformations made possible”
He emphasized that the NYS is a catalyst for transformation, where young people can acquire skills, knowledge and values to shape their futures. He stressed the importance of discipline, critical thinking, and knowledge seeking, urging recruits to make the most of this opportunity.
The programme is supervised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and is focused on giving young graduates the opportunity to participate in governance through practical job experiences and skills that also make them job-ready for the public and private sectors.
