By: Wilmot Konah
Monrovia: The Founder and Executive Director of the Liberian Youth Foundation (LIYOUFU), Abdurahman I. A. Fofana, has called on the Government of Liberia to establish a National Entrepreneur Grant Fund aimed at supporting youth- and women-led enterprises across the country.
Speaking at the organization’s 18th skills training graduation ceremony, Fofana said Liberia’s development challenges, ranging from high youth unemployment and poverty to drug abuse, crime and weak civic participation, are largely driven by limited opportunities rather than lack of potential among young people.
“This graduation is not just about certificates; it is about solutions,” he said, stressing that skills training must be matched with access to capital if young people are to become job creators instead of job seekers.
According to Fofana, since 2013 the Liberian Youth Foundation has focused on empowering young Liberians through Technical Vocational Skills Training and Civic Education, preparing them for real work, responsible citizenship, and leadership. He noted that through eighteen graduation cycles, the institution has remained committed to equipping youth with practical skills that restore dignity, reduce dependency, and strengthen communities.
However, he emphasized that training alone is not enough.
“Skills alone are not enough. Our young people also need access to capital. They need startup support. They need room to grow,” Fofana declared. “I call on the Government of Liberia to establish a National Entrepreneur Grant Fund dedicated to youth and women enterprises. This is not charity; it is investment. Investment in jobs, innovation, and national stability.”
He argued that empowering entrepreneurs would directly reduce unemployment and crime while stimulating economic growth, adding that Liberia’s future must be built by “skilled hands, responsible minds, and courageous leadership,” not by speeches alone.
Fofana also praised the National Legislature for passing the Technical Vocational Education Bill, which seeks to integrate vocational training into public and private schools. He called on President Joseph N. Boakai to sign the bill into law, noting that making technical and entrepreneurial education compulsory before high school graduation would bridge skills gaps, expand the labor force, and promote self-employment.
Addressing the graduates, Fofana described them as living proof that opportunity, when matched with discipline and determination, produces results. He encouraged them to use their skills to serve their communities and lead with integrity, reminding them that they are “not the leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders of today.”
The Liberian Youth Foundation, he reaffirmed, will continue to train, mentor and inspire young Liberians while advocating for policies and investments that transform skills into sustainable livelihoods.
