Tappita, Nimba County — In a ceremony hailed as a historic milestone for Nimba County and Liberia, Dr. Yar Donlah Gonway Gono, President of the newly established Tappita Vocational Training Institute (TVTI), officially launched the institute on Saturday, June 6 and outlined its role in expanding technical and vocational education across the country.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
Standing before a crowd of government officials including Vice President Jeremiah Koung, community leaders, students and diaspora supporters on a bright afternoon in Tappita, Dr. Gono described the Tappita Vocational Training Institute (TVTI) as “a vehicle for empowering Liberia through skills, innovation and opportunity’’.
She thanked members of the board of trustees, faculty and staff, the launch committee, local chiefs, elders and national partners for their support in bringing the institute to life.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Gono said Tappita Vocational Training Institute (TVTI) is a direct response to Liberia’s widening skills gap.
“Too many young Liberians complete high school without the practical training that industry demands,” she said.
“Technical and vocational education is not a second choice. It is a powerful pathway to economic independence and national prosperity,” Dr. Gono averred.
TVTI will offer a range of programs tied to sectors identified as vital for Liberia’s growth. Courses announced at the launch include: Electrical installation and maintenance, Building Construction Technology, Plumbing and Sanitation, Welding and Fabrication, Agriculture and agribusiness, Information Technology and Digital Skills, Tourism and Hospitality, Fashion Design and Tailoring, Logistics and supply chain management.
Dr. Gono stated that the curriculum was designed in consultation with local employers and industry experts to ensure graduates are job ready. “Our students will be prepared to join government agencies, private enterprises and non profits or to launch their own small businesses,” Dr. Gono asserted.
“We expect TVTI students to reduce unemployment, strengthen local services, and boost entrepreneurship across the region.” The launch took place on the newly developed institute grounds in the center of Tappita City.
Guests, including Vice President Koung toured the five-acre parcel of land donated by some family members of the Tappita City Community for the institution’s construction as demonstration plots where instructors plan to run hands on sessions.
Dr. Gono urged government agencies, private sector firms, international development partners and philanthropies to partner with Tappita Vocational Training Institute (TVTI ) on infrastructure, equipment, faculty development, scholarships and apprenticeships.
“No institution can achieve greatness in isolation,” she intimated, inviting partners to join the institute’s “transformative journey.” Dr. Gono asked the legislature to formalize backing for Tappita Vocational Training Institute (TVTI ) through supportive policies and funding.
She also committed to operating the institute with transparency and accountability, promising regular reporting and community engagement. Founders described the Tappita Vocational Training Institute (TVTI ) as part of a broader strategy to decentralize Liberia’s development so rural counties can access quality vocational training without leaving their homes.
“We envision a Liberia where young people possess marketable skills, communities have access to trained technicians, industries can recruit competent local talent and entrepreneurship flourishes,” Dr. Gono pointed out.
Dr. Gono announced plans to expand TVTI’s academic offerings and accreditation over time, with the long term goal of growing from a vocational college into a university level institution.
