By Ibrahim Alieu Kanu
Africa is changing and the change is centered around youthful leadership
Across the continent, a new generation is rising. They are breaking the cycle of gerontocracy and the dangerous over-reliance on World Bank and IMF loans that keep nations in poverty.
Driven by civic movements, tech innovation, and a bold demand for reform, young Africans are no longer waiting to be invited to the table. They are building the table.
With over 60% of Africans under the age of 25, this is not a future trend. It is the present reality. Young leaders are stepping forward in politics, business, and civil society to shape the Africa they want to inherit.
THE SIERRA LEONE STORY: DR. IBRAHIM BANGURA
In Sierra Leone, that story is being written by Dr. Ibrahim Bangura.
A governance expert, public policy consultant, security strategist, peacebuilder, and academic, Dr. Bangura represents a new kind of leadership. He is seeking the presidential candidacy of the All People’s Congress (APC) for the 2028 elections.
He has not yet been elected flagbearer. He has not yet launched a manifesto. But his message is already spreading like wildfire in the Harmattan.
“Heal. Unite. Build.”
Three words, one vision and a nation is listening.
The people of Sierra Leone have received him with open arms because he speaks to what they have prayed for since independence in 1961; leadership with integrity, vision, and purpose.
Dr. Bangura’s approach is a break from the old politics. He is the most Strategic politician in present day Sierra Leone and is running the most organized and well-meaning campaign across the political divide.
He is people-centered and his message resonates with the poor and the forgotten in society. His message is youth-driven and he speaks directly to the young people risking their lives on dangerous seas in search of opportunity in Europe and America. He is offering them a reason to stay and build at home.
This is not politics as usual. This is leadership for a new Africa.
In aligning Sierra Leone’ s development trajectory with kodern trends, Dr Ibrahim Bangura will create the enabling environment for the following
Digital Innovation- He will make sure young Sierra Leone drive the nation’s tech ecosystem, possessing the digital literacy required to modernize public administration, implement effective e-governance and fight corruption through blockchain and open data.
Demographic Alignment- As a young leader, Dr Ibrahim Bangura organically understand the needs, aspirations, and language of the vast majority of the country’s population, leading to more empathetic and relevant policymaking.
Grassroots Mobilization- During the 2018 election, Dr Ibrahim Bangura took it upon himself to mobilize first time voters and conduct a voter sensitization tours across the country. He is good at mobilizing young people because he believes young people excel at community organizing, civic activism and leveraging social media to unite diverse groups around socio-economic reforms.
Entrepreneurial Resilience – Dr Ibrahim Bangura has worked in part of Africa, especially in conflict affected nations, he understands the challenges of young people. Managing startups under challenging economic conditions will equipped young Sierra Leoneans with resourcefulness, agility and pragmatic-solving skills.
Global Interconnectedness – Dr Ibrahim Bangura is a visiting Professor at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, so he is exposed to global educational standards, international networks, and cross-border collaboration allows young Sierra Leonean leaders to bring world-class best practices to local governance.
Dr. Ibrahim Bangura is not just running for office. He is charged to develop and unite Sierra Leone.
