New York, United Nations Headquarters, 20, September, 2024: – Sierra Leone’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, H.E. Ms. Kenyeh Barlay, delivered an inspiring keynote address at the Summit of the Future Action Day 1 event, “Reimagining the Future: Cultivating Global Opportunities for Youth through Innovation and Impact.” Organized in collaboration with the Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations and Forbes, the event brought together world leaders, experts, and youth advocates to explore pathways for harnessing technology to build a more inclusive future for the next generation.

Addressing an audience of dignitaries, Ms. Barlay began by expressing her gratitude. “It is a profound privilege to address this esteemed gathering,” she said. She also extended thanks to the Youth, Peace, and Security Team at the Mission of Sierra Leone, commending their work in organizing the event.

Ms. Barlay emphasized the importance of international cooperation in an era of rapid technological advancement. “Today’s event is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to reimagine the future by cultivating global opportunities for youth through innovation, impact, and cooperation,” she declared. She underscored how emerging technologies, from artificial intelligence to digital connectivity, present both challenges and opportunities for developing nations like Sierra Leone.

She highlighted the Global Digital Compact, a framework designed to promote a safe, inclusive, and equitable digital future for all, which will be annexed to the Pact for the Future. “Sierra Leone fully supports this global initiative,” Ms. Barlay noted, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to ensuring that youth remain at the center of this transformation. “The youth are the engines of our future,” she added.

Sierra Leone’s progress in equipping its youth with digital skills was a focal point of the Minister’s speech. She highlighted the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030), which positions young people to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy. “We are building a generation of innovators ready to tackle global challenges and create solutions that improve lives,” Ms. Barlay remarked.

However, she stressed that these efforts cannot succeed in isolation. “The benefits of technology and innovation can only be fully realized through robust international cooperation,” she stated, calling for nations to share resources, knowledge, and expertise to build inclusive digital ecosystems.

Ms. Barlay also highlighted the tangible results Sierra Leone is already seeing through collaborations with global tech companies, academic institutions, and civil society. “We are advancing digital literacy, promoting innovation, and creating jobs for our youth,” she said, though she emphasized that much remains to be done.

Concluding her address, Ms. Barlay issued a rallying cry for unity and action. “The future is not something we wait for, it is something we build, together,” she said. “By working across borders, sectors, and generations, we can harness the transformative power of technology to create a future that is equitable, inclusive, and filled with opportunity for all.”

In a final note, Ms. Barlay echoed the words of the previous speaker, Richard Attias, underscoring the crucial role women will play in driving the future forward: “Women have a major role in shaping what comes next.”

With these powerful words, the Minister left the audience with a clear vision of hope, progress, and unity—a future where technology serves the collective good, driven by the energy and innovation of youth across the globe.

For further information, please contact the Alfred Kabia on +23279174027 or visit the Ministry’s official social media handles: Twitter-@moped2024, on Facebook and website: Moped.gov.sl