Freetown, May 7, 2026 -Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), a Pan-African organization active in more than 36 countries, has launched a national initiative in Sierra Leone aimed at preparing young people, especially girls, for future roles in the gold and diamond industry.
The rollout follows a weekend of engagements and media discussions on how Sierra Leone, and Africa more broadly, can better position its youth and women to benefit from mineral wealth.
Dr. Comfort Asokoro Ogaji, Executive Director of WiM-Africa, stressed the importance of early exposure.
“If we are serious about the future of Africa’s solid minerals sector, we must begin by creating interest from childhood,” she said.
“This is how we raise a new generation that understands the value of our resources and is prepared to lead the sector responsibly.”
The initiative introduces two flagship programs: the Gold & Diamond Discovery Club for primary schools and the NextGen Mining & Leadership Academy for secondary schools. Both are designed to provide foundational knowledge of the mineral sector, leadership training, environmental awareness, and pathways into careers and enterprise.
From a national perspective, Priscilla Hawanatu Kamara, WiM-Africa’s Sierra Leone Coordinator, emphasized the need to guide young people at the point of transition into the workforce.
“New entrants into the industry start with the young minds currently leaving secondary school,” she said.
“We need to help them see the opportunities in building careers around Sierra Leone’s natural resources, especially gold and diamonds.”
The program is being implemented in collaboration with the WiM-Africa Sierra Leone National Chapter and the Women in Mining Leone Initiative, with plans to introduce it across selected schools nationwide. An official national launch event is expected soon, alongside engagements with government institutions, schools, and development partners.
WiM-Africa says the initiative is part of a broader continental strategy to build a pipeline of future leaders in the extractive sector, while promoting inclusion, sustainability, and economic empowerment.
