Finance Minister Urges Youths To Engage In Entrepreneurship

Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Mr. Amara Konneh, has encouraged young people across the country, especially those graduating from vocational institutes to engage in entrepreneurship. Min. Konneh said such will help reduce the high unemployment rate and create avenue for Liberians to own their economy.

Min. Konneh made the assertion Friday, December 18, 2015 at the graduation ceremony of Amb. George Weah Global Institute of Vocational Education (GIVE) in Sinkor, Fiamah Community located in Montserrado County District #9.

According to the Nation’s Finance Minister, MFDP, on behalf of the Government of Liberia, is prepared to support any professional and determined group of young people who are willing and jobwise prepared to startup their own firms or companies.

“When we in government see this happening, we will continuously bang on the doors of banks to give loans to these determined Liberians. Government cannot provide jobs for every citizen; the public sector cannot absorb everybody. This is why it is important for us to encourage privatization and as young people coming out of vocational training, we look up to you to bring your acquired skills together and form your companies, then we will support you,” Min. Konneh said.

While serving as Guest Speaker at the ceremony, Min. Konneh used his own humble beginning to encourage the graduates not to be complacent with their current status of life, neither should they allow themselves to be overweighed by current and future challenges.

“There will always be challenges in life. Some of us went through all kinds of hardships and disappointments but we focused on our dreams. We didn’t lose sight of our dream. Therefore, I want to encourage you this day not to lose sight of your dream. You need to be determined to achieve in life,” he asserted.

Min. Konneh then pledged to help GIVE re-establish its computer laboratory and support the institution in any other way that would be desired of him. He also presented to the graduating class L$50,000, as his initiative contribution towards them.

He thanked the CEO of the institution, Mr. Dave Wreyou, for his far sightedness in establishing such a vocational institute noting that, “There are jobs in Liberia but the truth is we don’t have enough qualified Liberians; but, it is good that we have institutions like this that is training professionals in skilled labor.”-Press release