GVL Takes More TU Graduates

Golden Veroleum Liberia has this month added eight agriculture graduates from the William VS Tubman University in Maryland County to its intake of Management and Technical career paths. This brings to a total of 27 TU graduates taken by the oil palm company in the recent past.

Having the potential to be future management and professionals, graduates will undertake various field duties including in agronomy and operations, GVL said in a statement. Oil palm agronomy is both a field and an industrial profession. Success and advancement requires a love for the practical and hands on mindset, perseverance and attention to detail. As successful members from this group show initiative in building their experience and expertise in oil palm, they prepare themselves for supervisory, managerial and expert roles to international standards.

GVL spokesman Stephen Binda said the move by the company, reinforces earlier pronouncement made by the company during TU’s July 2015 graduation convocation. Ms Jean Hannah-Thompson, head of GVL’s Career Programs, confirmed the company’s desire and intent to develop and promote talented agronomy graduates to GVL management and technical positions. “GVL’s future will depend on well qualified, high performing Liberians”, said Mr. Eric Goll, General Manager of Human Resources.

“We are working closely with the Colleges and Universities, especially in the South East, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Bureau of Concessions, and the Counties,” said Ms. Jean Hannah-Thompson, head of the company’s career programs.

“GVL intends to sustain this recruitment exercise of qualified TU graduates as well as other university students and professionals during the course of its operation in Liberia.” Vice President, Joseph Boakai, on his visit to Indonesia last year, emphasized the importance of building Liberian technical and management skills similar to what Indonesia had done to create a major rural industry out of oil palm. With employment of nearly 4,000 Liberians in the southeast, GVL continues to reduce rural poverty through the provision of job opportunities, quality healthcare and education in host communities.

The company said it remains committed to improving the livelihood of its host communities through sustainable employment opportunities and other basic services, leading to a positive economic impact in the counties of southeastern Liberia and on local communities.-Press release