U Team SL Conference – Saturday, November 8th, 2025: The Rt. Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Honourable Member of Parliament representing Pujehun District, attended and served as the esteemed Guest Speaker at the United Team Sierra Leone (U Team SL) Conference in Pujehun District on November 8th, 2025. The conference was held under the theme: “Transforming From District to National: The Role of Youth in Nation Building.”
Development must begin at the grassroots. Pujehun must not be left behind in Sierra Leone’s march toward national transformation. We must encourage innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and youth-led initiatives that strengthen our communities” Rt. Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis.
In his keynote address, the former ECOWAS Speaker stated: “A nation is only as strong as the dreams of its youth. And here in Pujehun District, our youth are not just dreamers, they are doers. They are builders, thinkers, and leaders in the making. But for their dreams to become reality, we must create pathways from the district level to national platforms. We must ensure that the voices of Pujehun’s youth echo in the halls of Parliament, in government structures, in boardrooms, and across the continent.”
Hon. Tunis continued: No nation can rise without its youth, and no youth can rise without opportunity. Pujehun has long been seen as a district on the margins. But I say to you today: we are not on the margins, we are on the move. The energy, talent, and resilience of our young people are the engines of transformation. And if we are serious about building a stronger Sierra Leone, we must start by investing in the youth of Pujehun. Rt. Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis
He emphasized his commitment as a devoted servant of His Excellency President Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio, noting that his work aligns with the President’s vision for a prosperous and self-reliant Sierra Leone. As a ranking Member of Parliament for Pujehun District and former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Tunis highlighted initiatives he has led to promote education, healthcare, agriculture, women’s empowerment, youth development, and economic growth.
Hon. Tunis further stated: “As Members of Parliament, we are entrusted with the responsibility to legislate, advocate, and allocate not just for the nation, but for the communities that elected us. My participation today is a reaffirmation of that commitment. We must ensure that national development plans are inclusive of district-level priorities. That means investing in education, healthcare, agriculture, innovation, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship especially for our youth. It means creating platforms for civic engagement, leadership training, and digital literacy. It means ensuring that every young person in Pujehun has the tools to compete, contribute, and lead not just locally, but nationally and regionally.”
Reflecting on his tenure as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Tunis noted that regional integration begins at home: “The values we champion at the continental level peace, democracy, human rights, and economic cooperation must be rooted in our districts. Pujehun must not be left behind in the march toward regional relevance. We must build bridges between our youth, stakeholders and regional institutions, encourage cross-border collaboration, cultural exchange, and economic partnerships that elevate our district and empower our people.”
He stressed that nation-building is not the work of governments alone but the collective effort of citizens, especially youth: “Our young people must be seen as architects of transformation, not passive beneficiaries. They must be involved in policy formulation, community development, and peacebuilding. We must challenge the narrative that youth are a problem to be solved. Instead, we must embrace the truth that youth are a solution waiting to be unleashed.”
Hon. Tunis reaffirmed his long-standing advocacy for decentralization, increased budgetary allocations to rural districts, and youth-focused development programs. He emphasized empowering local councils, traditional leaders, and youth organizations as active partners in governance.
He also highlighted his support for youth and women empowerment programs: “I have supported transformative initiatives like the Transform Pujehun District Secretariat and One Love Salone Foundation with financial commitments amounting to billions of Leones, which have impacted the lives of many women and young people across the nation.” Rt. Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis
Recognizing the ambitious $2.7 million USD budget outlined in U Team SL’s Six-Year Strategic Development Plan (SDP), Hon. Tunis proudly announced: “I am making a personal financial commitment and donation of $300,000 USD (Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), equivalent to 7.2 billion Leones, to support the work and projects of United Team Sierra Leone (U Team SL). By uniting for a brighter future through volunteerism, peace, unity, development, and sustainability, this funding will be directed toward promoting education, healthcare, agriculture, empowering women and youth, and encouraging economic development in Pujehun District and beyond.”
He clarified: “This is not a donation; it is an investment in the future of Pujehun District and Sierra Leone. I challenge other leaders, government officials, partners, and stakeholders to match this commitment and join us in building a district that sets the standard for national transformation.” Rt. Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis
Hon. Tunis concluded with a call to action: “Let us create a model of youth-led development that can be replicated across the country and the region. Let Pujehun be the beacon of what is possible when we invest in our people. Let our story be one of resilience, innovation, and unity; a story that inspires others to believe in the power of grassroots transformation. We are stronger together. Let this gathering be remembered not as a ceremony, but as a catalyst. Let it mark the moment when Pujehun stopped waiting and started leading. Let it be the spark that ignites a movement from district to national, from youth to leadership, from hope to transformation. May God bless Pujehun District and the Republic of Sierra Leone.”
“Transforming from District to National: The Role of Youth in Nation Building — Development must begin at the grassroots. Pujehun District must not be left behind in Sierra Leone’s march toward national transformation. We must encourage innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and youth-led initiatives that strengthen our communities. To affirm my commitment, support, and contributions to youth-led initiatives, I am pledging a donation of $300,000 to United Team Sierra Leone (U Team SL) to enhance peace, unity, development, and sustainability in Sierra Leone.” Rt. Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis
