NATIONAL NEWS
BUCHANAN – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to placing young people at the heart of Liberia’s development agenda, promising that their voices will play a greater role in shaping government policies and national priorities.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Addressing hundreds of young people during a Town Hall Meeting at the Buchanan Fairgrounds on the eve of Liberia’s 179th Independence Day celebrations, President Boakai received the National Youth Manifesto from the Youth Advisory Council and described the engagement as a landmark step toward deepening collaboration between government and the country’s youthful population.
The President stressed that meaningful youth participation must extend beyond listening sessions to tangible action that creates opportunities for young Liberians to actively contribute to nation-building.
“Our commitment is not only to hear your concerns but to ensure that your ideas and aspirations help shape the future of our country,” President Boakai said, adding that the establishment of the National Youth Council has created a broader and more inclusive platform for youth organizations to participate in national decision-making.
He outlined several government initiatives aimed at improving the lives of young people, including expanded access to quality education, technical and vocational training, youth empowerment programs, efforts to combat substance abuse, and policies designed to prepare Liberia’s workforce for the demands of an increasingly competitive global economy.
While acknowledging that government cannot address every challenge immediately, President Boakai assured participants that his administration remains focused on creating sustainable pathways for employment, innovation, and economic productivity.
The Liberian leader also identified private sector investment and industrialization as critical drivers of youth employment, citing increased activity in manufacturing, shipbuilding, agriculture, and other productive sectors as key opportunities for job creation.
He urged young Liberians to invest their talents in building their own country rather than seeking uncertain opportunities abroad.
President Boakai further emphasized the growing importance of technology in national development, revealing that his administration is investing in Liberia’s digital transformation while strengthening the education system to equip young people with skills needed for the twenty-first century.
He encouraged the responsible use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to improve productivity, promote innovation, strengthen food security, and generate employment, while warning against the misuse of digital technologies.
Receiving the National Youth Manifesto, the President assured young people that the document would be carefully reviewed, noting that many of its recommendations align with the government’s existing development priorities.
He pledged continued budgetary support for youth development and reaffirmed his administration’s determination to expand access to education, technology, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunities across Liberia, including in rural communities.
Earlier, Youth Advisory Council Chairman Mandela Gbollie presented the manifesto, calling for increased government investment in youth development through enhanced funding for the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the construction and modernization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers in all fifteen counties.
Gbollie also urged the government to improve access to inclusive education for young people living with disabilities, arguing that greater investment in skills development would better prepare Liberia’s youth for employment and self-reliance.
The Youth Advisory Council further appealed for policies that would unlock economic opportunities for young entrepreneurs by commercializing Liberia’s creative industry, expanding support for youth-owned businesses, and reforming the Youth Entrepreneurship Bank to remove financing barriers that continue to limit access to capital.
The Council recommended increased youth representation in the governance of the Youth Entrepreneurship Bank and called for startup tax incentives and broader fiscal reforms to create a more enabling business environment for youth-led enterprises.
According to the Council, empowering young Liberians through education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and meaningful participation in governance is essential to accelerating the country’s economic transformation and securing a more prosperous future for generations to come.
