By patricia.ngevao@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, has described the country’s motorbike riders as more than just transport providers, hailing them as “community influencers and peacebuilders” with untapped potential to transform society.
Speaking during a high-level dialogue with officials from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Minister Sannoh emphasized the vital role young bike riders play in promoting national peace and cohesion—particularly in post-conflict and underserved areas.
The meeting centred on the advancement of the project: “Empowering Youth Bike Riders as Sustainable Agents for Peace in Sierra Leone.” This initiative seeks to reposition members of the Bike Riders Union as grassroots champions of peace, unity, and economic development.
“Our young riders are embedded in almost every community. They have influence, they have reach—and if empowered economically and socially—they can become powerful agents of change,” Minister Sannoh noted.
Among the key components discussed was a proposal to procure new motorbikes for union members, aimed at boosting livelihoods, encouraging responsible leadership, and fostering a deeper sense of ownership and accountability within the initiative.
UNDP and UNCDF representatives applauded the Ministry’s bold vision, reaffirming their continued support for youth-led peacebuilding. They commended the inclusive and strategic nature of the programme, which blends economic empowerment with leadership development and civic education.
The Bike Riders Union represents a significant segment of Sierra Leone’s working youth, often straddling the line between economic vulnerability and community influence. For many, the bike isn’t just a source of income—it’s a platform for social interaction, mobilisation, and now, potentially, peacebuilding.
“This initiative is more than just a youth project—it’s a national investment in stability,” one UN official remarked.
As plans for the next phase of the programme take shape, stakeholders are optimistic that the initiative will not only reduce youth unemployment but also embed a new generation of peace ambassadors across Sierra Leone’s towns and villages.
By turning everyday riders into trusted messengers of peace and civic responsibility, the Ministry of Youth Affairs is charting a new path—one where progress rides on two wheels, and peace is just a ride away. PSN/10/6/2025
