By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Voinjama, Lofa County – The Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL), in partnership with the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), officially launched Liberia’s Financial Education and Literacy Program in Voinjama over the weekend, marking a major step toward financial inclusion and empowerment.
The launch event drew over 300 participants, including women, youth, savings groups, persons with disabilities, marketers, and local leaders.
The initiative, supported by CBL and implemented by FeJAL alongside PERT Consultancy Inc., aims to equip underserved Liberians with essential financial knowledge to improve money management and resilience.
Lofa County Development Officer Francis Lanssana, who led the launch, praised the program’s grassroots approach.
“Financial literacy isn’t about how much one earns, but how well one plans,” he said. Lanssana called for integrating financial education into school curricula to instill responsible habits from a young age.
Community voices echoed enthusiasm. Madam Garmai Gbusiwollie of a local savings group shared, “We never had the chance to learn how to manage money. Now, we can plan better and teach others.” Similar sentiments came from transport union leaders and marketers, who described the training as both practical and transformative.
Cllr. Alphonsus Zeon, head of the National Financial Education Working Group, described the program as a movement promoting “dignity, responsibility, and independence” through informed financial choices.
He also introduced the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) as a tool to modernize trade and safeguard transactions.
FeJAL President Lisa Diasay emphasized the campaign’s inclusive nature. “Whether you sell in the market or ride a motorbike, this program helps you take control of your financial future,” she said.
Thirteen local mobilizers were certified after a two-day “Training of Trainers” session and will now lead outreach across towns and rural areas in Lofa. These efforts are part of CBL’s broader Financial Inclusion Agenda, under the Financial Sector Development Implementation Plan (FSDIP) launched in 2016.
With the Lofa County launch setting the stage, the program will expand to other counties, aiming to build a financially literate citizenry and reduce vulnerability across Liberia.
