Monrovia – The 2026 Annual Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment (AYEE) Summit has opened in Monrovia, bringing together young entrepreneurs, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates, government officials and development partners to promote youth entrepreneurship and skills development.
By Francis G. Boayue
Held under the theme: “From Skills to Enterprise,” the two-day summit features business showcases, ecosystem engagement, pitching competitions, mentorship discussions and recognition of youth-led businesses.
Giving an overview of the summit, Emmanuel G. Mulbah, Chief Executive Officer of YOCEL and AYEE Chief Convener, said the gathering also marks the formal launch of the Elevate Liberia program, an initiative aimed at helping young Liberians transition from technical skills training to entrepreneurship and sustainable business development.
Mulbah said consultations with TVET students and institutions identified a persistent gap between technical training and business development.
He said graduates in fields including plumbing, carpentry and catering often possess marketable skills but lack access to mentorship, financing and other support needed to establish sustainable enterprises.
According to Mulbah, the first day of the summit focuses on business showcases and ecosystem engagement, while the second day will feature pitching sessions, fireside discussions and networking activities.
The summit will conclude with the Wologizi Fund Awards, which will recognize selected youth-led businesses.
Delivering the keynote address, Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Chairman Clarence Massaquoi reflected on his experience entering the job market after graduation, describing limited employment opportunities as a challenge that continues to affect many young Liberians.
Massaquoi cited government data indicating that approximately 75 percent of Liberia’s population is 25 years old or younger, urging young people to recognize their potential to contribute to national development.
He encouraged participants to pursue opportunities in agriculture, commerce, trade, engineering and technology, noting that digital technology has reduced some of the traditional barriers to entrepreneurship.
According to Massaquoi, young Liberians can now use mobile phones and digital platforms to establish and manage businesses while accessing online courses and other resources available globally.
He disclosed that the LTA is partnering with the Ministry of Education to connect 156 public high schools to high-speed internet.
The authority, he added, has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to establish 15 digital hubs across Liberia’s 15 counties.
Massaquoi further disclosed that the LTA has committed more than US$200,000 to support its partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He said the authority’s responsibility extends beyond providing telecommunications infrastructure to ensuring affordable digital access, pledging greater institutional support for youth-focused initiatives.
Massaquoi also referenced President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s call for government institutions to serve Liberians regardless of political affiliation, religion or tribal background.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for TVET at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Laraamand S. Nyonton, said the initiative supports the Boakai administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, particularly its focus on education and human capital development.
Nyonton said the ministry’s vocational training institutions, including the Monrovia Vocational Training Center and BWTVC, have a combined capacity to train more than 2,500 young Liberians per cycle in areas including residential electricity, plumbing and sanitation, air conditioning and fabrication.
He, however, stressed that technical training must be linked to entrepreneurship to make a meaningful impact on youth unemployment.
“When a young electrician or an auto mechanic transitions from seeking employment to opening a local workshop or service firm, they cease to be job seekers — they become job creators,” Nyonton said.
He subsequently launched the Elevate Liberia program on behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Minister Cornelia Kruah.
The program includes a business club, mentorship framework, and seed financing through the Wologizi Seed Fund, with support from partners including the Education Development Center (EDC), Mastercard Foundation, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
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