The Director of Youth in the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports says youth should be regarded not only as future leaders but also as crucial drivers of progress.

Anthony Koroma made the statement on Wednesday at the start of the two day ‘National Youth in Governance Conference’ in Freetown.

The conference with the theme: ‘Partnership in Promoting Human Security in Sierra Leone’, was organized by the Sierra Leone Action Network on Small Arms (SLANSA).

Mr. Koroma said there was need to empower and inculcate in youth good governance and non-violence practices as means of resolving conflict.

Coordinator of SLANSA Florela Hazely said the conference which brought together pupils from various senior secondary schools, would look at how youth could partner and dialogue with the government and community leaders to maintain peace and security in the country.

Sylvester Meauvx, the Chairman, Conference of principals of Secondary Schools, said the development of youth was synonymous with that of the nation. He therefore called on the government and its partners to put more efforts to the promotion of the welfare of youth in the country.