About 10,000 young Liberians have graduated from President Joseph N. Boakai’s digital skills training program, receiving certificates and awards for their participation.
This initiative, which spanned over three months, is part of the president’s ambitious 100-day deliverables aimed at equipping the nation’s youth with critical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills.
The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, emphasized the transformative role of digital skills in creating job opportunities and driving national development.
The Chairperson of the Project Team, Commissioner Abdulai Kamara, explained that the program during its implementation gives young people from the 15 subdivisions of Liberia the opportunity to push their personal development using the power of technology.
The Liberia Telecommunication Authority boss disclosed that from the first phase of the project, young Liberians have gained digital skills in different programs that will enable them to participate in some forms of electronic commercial activities to earn a living.
He encouraged the graduates to aspire more and to practice the basic skills they have acquired despite the limited time they had to run through the training.
Speaking on behalf of the president, Minister of State Without Portfolio, Samuel Stevquoah, highlighted the importance of ICT as a backbone for progress across various sectors, describing it as essential to unlocking Liberia’s full potential.
“When we pledged to train up to 10,000 of our youth in digital skills within the first half of the year, we knew it was an ambitious goal. But today, I proclaim it as a promise made, promise kept” Stevquoah declared.
He added that since his pronouncement to have the youth of the country, the administration through all line ministries has been committed to delivering the promise made, and as such the Go Digital Project was launched to fulfill the president’s promise.
The program also recognized exceptional participants by awarding seed funding to 50 teams of young entrepreneurs who presented innovative proposals. Minister Stevquoah encouraged these recipients to leverage the support to innovate and contribute to Liberia’s development.
“You are not just beneficiaries; you are torchbearers for a new era in Liberia,” he said, urging them to pay it forward by empowering others.
The digital skills training initiative is not a standalone effort but part of a broader Digital Transformation Project.
The project aims to integrate ICT into various sectors, including education, health, and agriculture, enhancing productivity and improving the quality of life for all Liberians.
President Boakai has also directed the Ministry of Education to collaborate with development partners to incorporate digital skills training into high school curricula, ensuring future generations are digitally equipped.
