By Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Newton, 1st April 2026 — The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier, has praised Sierra Leone’s commitment to youth empowerment and reintegration after visiting the Obasanjo Skills Acquisition and Youth Transformation Centre in Newton.
The centre, supported by the European Union-funded Migrant Protection and Reintegration Program and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NAYCOM), provides vocational training for returned migrants. Courses range from cosmetology, baking, catering, tailoring, solar and electrical engineering, civil construction, ICT, photography, driving, and automobile engineering.
Dr. Paullier toured the facility and interacted with trainees, expressing admiration for their resilience and determination. “This centre is a testament to the amazing things happening in Sierra Leone,” he said. “At the United Nations, we believe youth must be at the centre of our institutions, especially those who have been left behind.”
He commended the trainees for their will to learn and pledged to continue advocating for young people globally.
Dr. Pauline Macharia, IOM’s Officer-in-Charge, described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration with the UN. “It is an honor to engage the Assistant Secretary-General on how we can continue to support and empower Sierra Leonean youth to contribute to national development,” she said, noting IOM’s longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
Beneficiaries shared their gratitude, with one female trainee in driving training saying the program had given her “lifetime skills” and a pathway to independence.
National Youth Commissioner Joseph Maada Lahai hailed the centre as more than infrastructure, calling it “a space for transformation, resilience, and innovation.”
The visit underscores Sierra Leone’s growing reputation as a leader in youth-focused development, with the Obasanjo Centre standing as a beacon of opportunity for young people seeking to turn challenges into sustainable futures.
