By patricia.ngevao@awokonewspapersl.com
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In a major push to support entrepreneurship and tackle youth unemployment, Acting Minister of Youth Affairs Patrick Michaelson Gibrilla has announced that 4,821 entrepreneurs will receive business grants under a strategic initiative aimed at fostering economic growth and job creation.
“We are investing in the architects of Sierra Leone’s prosperity,” Gibrilla declared, reaffirming the government’s commitment to empowering young business owners and innovators. The grant program, designed to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will provide financial support to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to national economic development.
This initiative is backed by a collaboration between Rokel Commercial Bank, BRAC, and the Mastercard Foundation, tackling the financial barriers that have long hindered young Sierra Leoneans from launching and sustaining their businesses. “Every young person we empower today becomes a job creator tomorrow, multiplying the impact across communities,” Minister Gibrilla emphasized.
At the core of the program is the innovative Rokel Sim Korpor Payment Platform, ensuring secure and transparent disbursement of funds. James Bondeva Sandi, Director of Programs at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, highlighted the significance of integrating digital solutions. “We are marrying financial support with digital innovation to create a model that is both impactful and replicable,” he explained. The platform not only facilitates efficient fund distribution but also introduces beneficiaries to formal financial systems, enhancing long-term economic inclusion.
This initiative extends beyond financial aid, offering entrepreneurs access to essential business training, personalized mentorship, and financial literacy education. A BRAC representative emphasized the program’s broader vision: “We are building ecosystems around these young entrepreneurs—the grant is just the seed we are planting.” With targeted support in key sectors like agriculture, technology, and manufacturing, the initiative is set to boost the survival and expansion rates of emerging businesses.
The involvement of Rokel Commercial Bank underscores the crucial role of financial institutions in national development. “This collaboration demonstrates how banking infrastructure can drive social transformation,” a senior bank official remarked.
With a combination of strategic investment, digital innovation, and capacity-building support, this initiative is poised to reshape Sierra Leone’s entrepreneurial landscape, turning ambitious young entrepreneurs into the next generation of job creators and economic drivers. PSN/1/4/2025
