CES youth ministry budget increased by nearly 400%, minister says

JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) – Central Equatoria State Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports says the ministry’s budget has increased by almost 400 percent as the government seeks to expand opportunities for young people.

The minister made the remarks during the official reception of the newly elected Central Equatoria State Youth Union leadership on Friday.

He said the increased allocation is intended to support programmes targeting youth empowerment, sports, culture and other activities.

“In the previous years, there used to be a very small budget allocated for the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. But this time, in the Council, I stood firm. That budget has been increased by almost 400%. I will not tell you how much. But it has been increased by almost 400%,” the minister said.

He said the ministry will also organize a financing conference to mobilize additional resources from the private sector, development partners, hotels, companies, NGOs and other organizations.

The minister acknowledged that government resources remain limited and said additional funding would be needed to meet the needs of young people.

“The budget is not enough to cater for all the needs of the youth. So we have to think outside the box. We have to look for resources to supplement the budget that is coming from the government,” he said.

The minister also announced plans to support 500 young people through entrepreneurship programmes, including mentorship for young women.

He said the government is also working to create more employment opportunities for South Sudanese youth and ensure that existing labour laws protecting nationals are respected.

The minister cited a case in which a company recruited about 220 employees but only 20 were South Sudanese.

“In one of the companies that recruited about 220 employees, only 20 of them are South Sudanese,” he said.

He said the government would engage relevant authorities to inspect companies and ensure compliance with the Labour Act.

The minister further announced plans to revive vocational training centres in Central Equatoria State, with training expected in areas including auto mechanics, tailoring, carpentry, masonry, catering, computer science and artificial intelligence.

He said the government is also exploring agricultural schemes as a way of creating employment and improving productivity among young people.

“If we have those schemes, thousands of young people will be absorbed into the agricultural sector,” he said.

The minister also called for the establishment of a youth fund through an act of parliament, saying the initiative would provide dedicated financing for youth activities rather than relying on individual government officials for assistance.

He said the government would initially consider providing operational support to the state youth union while working toward a more permanent funding mechanism.

The minister also announced plans to strengthen youth participation in sports and music, while encouraging artists to produce content that promotes peace, unity and peaceful coexistence.

Meanwhile, he encouraged young people to volunteer in government institutions as a way of gaining experience and improving their chances of future employment.

He said about 10 young people had already joined the ministry as volunteers and that more opportunities would be created.