GBARNGA – The Government of Liberia (GoL), through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, on Friday officially launched the second batch of the National Cadet Program in Gbarnga, Bong County, with more than 1,100 young Liberians expected to benefit from the initiative aimed at strengthening youth empowerment and workforce development across the country.
Serving as Chief Launcher, Liberia’s Minister of the Ministry Finance and Development Planning(MFDP), Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, hailed the initiative as a transformative step toward preparing young people for the demands of the professional world.
The MFDP Minister Ngafuan reflected on his own internship experience in 1988 at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, describing it as a life-changing opportunity that helped shape his professional journey.
He told the gathering that the National Cadet Program is fully funded by the Government of Liberia and forms part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s broader agenda for youth empowerment and intergenerational equity.
According to him, the six-month program will place over 1,000 university graduates and graduating seniors in various public institutions where they will gain practical skills and workplace experience intended to ease their transition into employment.
“The National Cadet Program we launched today is one of several initiatives being undertaken to actualize the President’s vision for youth empowerment,” the Minister said.
The MFDP Minister also highlighted other government-led youth initiatives, including the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB), a US$18 million project designed to support 30,000 youth-led businesses and create more than 100,000 jobs across Liberia.
Minister Ngafuan further noted Liberia’s successful bid to host the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Center, which he initiated, would create additional opportunities for young Liberians.
Minister Ngafuan indicated that the country is not failing citing infrastructure development in the south-east and western Liberia.
For her part, Youth and Sports Minister, Cornelia W. Kruah, described the launch as a “paradigm shift” in youth development and governance.
She praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for entrusting young people with leadership responsibilities and supporting the expansion of the cadet initiative nationwide.
“Today we are demonstrating that irrespective of your location in Liberia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will impact your life,” Minister Kruah declared.
She announced that the cadet program has now expanded from eight counties to all 15 counties in Liberia, increasing the number of cadets from 235 in the first cohort to 1,100 participants in the second cohort.
The duration of service has also been extended from three months to six months. Minister Kruah emphasized that the recruitment process was inclusive and transparent, bringing together young people from diverse social and economic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities and unemployed youth.
“We are building a programmatic framework that moves Liberian young people from exclusion to productivity,” she noted.
She encouraged the cadets to take advantage of the opportunity by demonstrating discipline, professionalism, and competence during their assignments. “When you go to these institutions, not everybody will embrace you immediately,” she cautioned.
Representing the United Nations at the event, Dr. Mady Biaye, Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund, praised the Government of Liberia(GoL) for revitalizing the National Cadet Program and ensuring fairness in the recruitment process.
Dr. Biaye alerted that Liberia’s youthful population presents a major opportunity for national transformation if properly harnessed through investments in education, leadership development, and skills training.
“Young people are not tomorrow’s problem; they are today’s solution,” he stated. “You are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the co-architects of today.”
