Several newly hired Liberian engineers received a big send off here Tuesday during a luncheon in their honor sponsored by Golden Veroleum Liberia, at Royal Hotel in Monrovia.

The cadets, who include Edward Howard, Kokolu Kpanawu, S. Nyemah Kreejardiah, Joseph Garwor, Armah Kimba, Theophilus Kambo, and Aloysius Kambo Jr. will undertake their journey with the full support of GVL and their families and friends.

Scheduled to depart the country in the coming week, each of the engineers will receive a life time opportunity to pursue internship in Jakarta, Indonesia under the sponsorship of Golden Veroleum. The engineers will learn the oil palm business inside and out and learn from their Indonesian counter parts.

“This is the first time in the history of Liberia that we can think of a concession company sending Liberians to study in Indonesia and one day come back [to] help run the company,” said GVL Head of Communication, Virgil Magee.

Also speaking during the event, Senator Joseph Nagbe of Sinoe County challenged the students to do their best and set the standard for future cadets who will follow in their footsteps, saying, “You are the best and you will accomplish the best.”

While widely applauded by representatives from various government agencies, each of the cadets remained humble and pledged to not let anyone down during their stay in Indonesia.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, GVL recently presented a check for US$100,000, to the Ministry of Agriculture for scholarship students in the agriculture sector, in addition to already-existing pledge of one million dollars to help students achieve their educational goal.

To date, more than 1,200 Liberian students have received GVL scholarship funding in the country. These scholarships provide financial assistance to underwrite the cost of students’ tuition, in the agriculture sector at various universities across Liberia.

Over time, the company plans to elevate to high school its budding educational systems, thus completing an academic loop. GVL’s 1.6 billion U.S. dollar investment in Liberia is one of the largest in the history of the country and at full capacity will include the employment of approximately 40,000 Liberians.

“We are a developer and development, meaning helping people and helping the country with socially and environmentally sustainable practices. There is a lot for everyone to learn about; how we work with communities, schools and students with our educational and career programs. We are here to proceed and work quickly to bring jobs and incomes to communities, at GVL we believe the best sustainability is education,” said Magee.