By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Rome, Italy – October 2025: In a compelling demonstration of African youth leadership on the global stage, Alhaji Alusine Kebe, Global Coordinator of the World Food Forum (WFF) Sierra Leone Chapter, proudly represented Sierra Leone and the African continent at the 2025 World Food Forum Flagship Event. Held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters in Rome, the event marked the FAO’s 80th anniversary and the fifth edition of the WFF’s flagship gathering.
Under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” the forum brought together over 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including governments, youth leaders, researchers, farmers, private sector actors, and development partners. The event served as a critical platform for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on zero hunger, climate action, and sustainable agriculture.
Kebe was among a select group of youth leaders invited by the FAO Office of Youth and Women, led by Kazuki Kitaoka. His participation underscored Sierra Leone’s growing voice in global agrifood policy and the FAO’s commitment to elevating perspectives from the Global South.
Kebe’s standout moment came during the WFF Africa Chapters’ Side Event on Education, Policy, and Collaboration. Addressing a room of policymakers, educators, and youth advocates, he called for a radical overhaul of agricultural education in Africa. He urged the integration of indigenous knowledge with modern innovations, declaring:
“Africa’s next agricultural revolution will not come from machines alone; it will come from the minds, hands, and voices of its youth.”
Drawing on the FAO’s 2025 Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems Report, Kebe highlighted that 44% of working African youth depend on agrifood systems, yet food insecurity among them has surged from 16.7% to 24.4% in under a decade. “This is not just a statistic. It’s a wake-up call,” he warned.
Kebe proposed the creation of an “Erasmus for Africa”—a continent-wide academic mobility program modeled after Europe’s Erasmus Mundus—to foster cross-cultural learning and innovation in agriculture. He called for stronger partnerships among African universities to empower the next generation of agrifood leaders.
Behind the scenes, Kebe joined fellow WFF Africa representatives in a strategic meeting with FAO Assistant Director-General officials. The outcome: a landmark commitment by the FAO to:
- Allocate a dedicated annual budget for WFF Africa Chapters starting in 2026
- Establish a Regional WFF Africa Office
- Appoint a Ghana-based focal person to coordinate continental efforts
Kebe hailed these pledges as “a major step toward institutionalizing youth leadership in Africa’s agrifood transformation agenda.”
Back in Sierra Leone, Kebe’s participation aligns with the government’s Feed Salone Agenda, which prioritizes food security, agricultural productivity, and youth engagement. He reaffirmed his dedication to translating global insights into local impact:
“This platform was not just about participation. It was about building partnerships, sharing Africa’s voice, and bringing home lessons that can help empower young Sierra Leoneans to lead the future of agriculture.”
Kebe is the Global Coordinator of the WFF Sierra Leone Chapter, Country Representative for the Erasmus Mundus Association, and a Joint MSc candidate in Sustainable Agrifood Systems at MATE University (Hungary) and the University of Zagreb (Croatia). A passionate advocate for youth leadership, education reform, and innovation, he continues to bridge local challenges with global opportunities, making him a rising figure in international development.