Liberia Celebrates World Youth Skills Day

Liberia joined the rest of the world to celebrate and commemorate World Youth Skills Day through the Liberian Business Idea competition.

It was an exciting event, with young Liberians showcasing their innovative ideas made possible with technical skills. 

This event was organized under the Youth Rising Project, aiming to equip young people with essential skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship, in line with the United Nations General Assembly’s declaration in 2014.

The theme for this year’s World Youth Skills Day is “Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future.” The focus is on recognizing the critical role that teachers, trainers, and educators play in providing skills training for youth, enabling them to transition into the labor market and actively engage in their communities and societies.

Assistant Minister of TVET at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Hon. Millias Z. Sheriff, provided an overview of the program, acknowledging the support from the EU-funded Youth Rising Project and the Swedish-funded supporting youth project. These initiatives aim to recognize and project skillful individuals in Liberia who are significant contributors to the vocational and technical training sectors.

In his speech, Hon. Millias Z. Sheriff expressed gratitude to the EU, Swedish government, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for their proactive efforts and adherence to the project’s design and targets. He also announced that an additional 28 million dollars would be allocated to include other schools across Liberia’s 15 counties, ensuring that each county has a functioning TVET institution.

UNIDO also commended the Liberian government and the EU for their commitment to providing quality TVET training opportunities to the country’s youth. This dedication seeks to create an enabling environment that promotes employment and sustainable development in Liberia.

The UN Resident Coordinator to Liberia emphasized the importance of investing in youth skills, emphasizing the significance of this year’s theme, “Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future.” By empowering the youth with relevant skills, Liberia can foster positive change and development for a prosperous future.

The celebration of World Youth Skills Day in Liberia serves as a testament to the nation’s commitment to empowering its young population, providing them with the tools they need to succeed in the workforce and make meaningful contributions to society.