TAPPITA, Nimba County – All roads are leading to Tappita as residents of Lower Nimba prepare to welcome Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung for the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Tappita Vocational Training Institute (TVTI), a project being hailed as a transformative investment in education, skills development, and economic empowerment.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
The two-day event, scheduled for June 5-6, is expected to attract senior government officials, lawmakers, traditional leaders, development partners, and citizens from across the county, marking what many describe as a historic milestone for the region.
The institution was established through legislative action and later received presidential endorsement through the appointment of administrators and a Board of Trustees by Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Since then, citizens of Electoral District #6 and stakeholders throughout Lower Nimba have rallied behind efforts to bring the project to fruition.
Vice President Koung, a native of Nimba County, is expected to serve as Chief Launcher and preside over the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Representative Dorwohn Twain Gleekia, who spearheaded the legislative effort that created the institution. Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, cabinet officials, and local government leaders are also expected to attend.
A New Chapter for Lower Nimba
For many residents, TVTI represents more than a new educational facility—it symbolizes the realization of a long-held dream.
Nearly two decades after Liberia’s civil conflict ended, thousands of young people in Lower Nimba have faced limited opportunities for technical and vocational training. Students seeking professional skills often had to travel to Monrovia or neighboring countries, placing higher education beyond the reach of many families.
The establishment of TVTI aims to change that reality.
The institution will be constructed on 50 acres of land in Tappita City and is envisioned as a modern vocational and tertiary education hub with an estimated development cost of US$12.7 million.
Plans for the campus include academic buildings, technical workshops, student dormitories, agricultural demonstration farms, health sciences facilities, a library, administrative offices, and a multipurpose center.
According to organizers, classes are expected to commence on June 8, shortly after the launch activities conclude.
Three-Day Celebration
Activities will begin with a community parade through Tappita City on Friday, June 5, followed by traditional ceremonies involving chiefs, elders, women groups, and local authorities.
The official opening program will feature remarks from TVTI Board Chairman Cyril Lurlay, Representative Gleekia, TVTI President and CEO Dr. Yar Donlah Gonway-Gono, and Chief Justice Gbeisay.
Representatives of President Boakai’s administration will also highlight how the project aligns with the government’s development agenda, while county officials and lawmakers are expected to pledge support for the institution’s growth.
The centerpiece of the event will be the groundbreaking ceremony, during which Vice President Koung and other dignitaries will turn the first shovels of earth at the permanent campus site.
The second day will focus on a Partnership and Development Forum bringing together government ministries, state-owned enterprises, and international partners to discuss funding opportunities, institutional partnerships, and long-term sustainability plans for the institute.
Building Skills, Creating Opportunities
TVTI’s initial academic programs are expected to focus on agriculture and agribusiness, information technology, construction and building technology, health sciences, entrepreneurship, and hospitality management.
Supporters believe the institution will help develop the skilled workforce needed to drive economic growth across the Eastern Nimba Corridor, a strategic trade region extending toward the Côte d’Ivoire border.
Organizers say the project is particularly significant because the land for the institution was donated by the Parent-Teacher Association of Tappeh Memorial High School, reflecting strong community ownership and commitment.
For residents of Lower Nimba, the groundbreaking ceremony represents more than the launch of an educational institution. It is being celebrated as the beginning of a new era—one in which local students can pursue professional and technical training without leaving their communities.
As anticipation builds ahead of the ceremony, many in Tappita see TVTI as a powerful symbol of opportunity, progress, and hope for future generations.
“This institution is not just about buildings,” one organizer noted. “It is about giving young people the skills and opportunities they need to shape their own future.”
With the arrival of Vice President Koung and a host of national leaders, Tappita is poised to take center stage this weekend as Liberia witnesses the birth of what supporters hope will become a premier center for technical and vocational education in rural Liberia.
