Kampala, Uganda – April 8, 2025 — Former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma delivered a powerful call for skills development, innovation, and agricultural transformation at the 8th African Leadership Forum (AFL) in Kampala.
The forum, co-hosted by the UONGOZI Institute, the Hailemariam & Roman Foundation, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), brought together African leaders to assess progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and chart a way forward.
Koroma: Investing in Youth and Agriculture is Key
Addressing the forum, Koroma emphasized the urgent need to align education with labor market demands. He argued that Africa’s demographic advantage could only be harnessed through targeted investments in digital skills, vocational training, and entrepreneurship.
“Africa’s youth must be equipped with the right competencies to drive economic growth,” Koroma stated. “We must modernize our education systems and provide young people with future-facing skills that meet the demands of the 21st century.”
Koroma also underscored agriculture’s potential to transform African economies, highlighting the need to move beyond subsistence farming. He called for value addition, technological advancements, and modernized supply chains to enhance productivity and food security.
“Without innovation in agriculture, we cannot achieve sustainable economic transformation,” he warned. “We must industrialize the sector and ensure that Africa reaps the full benefits of its vast agricultural resources.”
A Call for Bold Reforms
Koroma’s remarks resonated with the forum’s broader discussions on Africa’s development trajectory. Other prominent leaders, including former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, echoed the call for homegrown solutions to Africa’s challenges.
UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary Antonio Pedro urged African nations to prioritize investments that create jobs and drive economic growth. He stressed that the continent must shift from dependency to self-sufficiency by capitalizing on its resources and workforce.
Commitment to Action
The forum concluded with a unified commitment to accelerating SDG implementation through strategic investments, governance reforms, and regional integration. Koroma’s advocacy for skills development and agricultural innovation reinforced the need for practical solutions to Africa’s economic challenges.
“Africa must not only rise—it must lead,” Pedro concluded, echoing the forum’s resolve to move from rhetoric to action.
