MONROVIA — Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Investment Bank Management Company (YEIB-MANCO), Joseph Fatorma Sando, has called on citizens of Lofa County, particularly those from Kolahun District, to prioritize education and invest in the development of young people as a pathway to sustainable community transformation.
By Charles Lamandine, contributing writer
Sando made the call recently at his residence in Old Road, Sinkor, during a graduation celebration honoring eight students sponsored under his educational scholarship initiative who completed professional development programs at GONET Academy as part of its 2026 Continuous Professional Development (CPD) class.
The graduates, who are currently pursuing university education at institutions including the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), United Methodist University (UMU), Cuttington University and the University of Liberia, completed specialized training in communication, public relations, human resources, entrepreneurship, business management, and monitoring and evaluation.
The graduation represents another milestone in the Sando Educational Scholarship Program, which supports students from Kolahun District and other parts of Lofa County.
Addressing family members, community leaders, academics and other guests, Sando described education as one of the most enduring investments parents and community leaders can make in the future of their children.
“If we, the kinsmen of Lofa, especially Kolahun, want to see real transformation, we must prioritize and invest deliberately in the educational sojourn of our future leaders. No amount of wealth is greater than an educated child,” he said.
He noted that Lofa County, particularly Kolahun District, has produced talented, resilient and enterprising individuals capable of competing nationally and internationally. However, he argued that realizing their potential requires deliberate investment and collective support.
According to Sando, educating one child goes beyond improving an individual’s prospects, as it also creates opportunities for the development of families and communities.
He expressed gratitude to God, GONET Academy’s faculty and administration, and the graduates for their commitment, resilience and discipline, describing the graduation of eight sponsored students at once as a rare blessing.
He also challenged parents across Lofa County and Liberia to make sacrifices for their children’s education, despite prevailing economic difficulties.
“Let us sacrifice our last resources to educate our children. When you educate one child of Kolahun, you educate a whole generation of leaders. That is the spirit of YEIB,” he added.
Culture, Tradition and Discipline as Foundations for Development
Beyond education, Sando emphasized the importance of preserving cultural identity, traditional values and discipline, warning that the gradual erosion of these principles threatens the moral foundation of families and communities.
He said Liberia’s cultural heritage has historically promoted respect for elders, integrity, hard work, responsibility and communal solidarity—values he believes must be passed on to younger generations.
According to him, while education creates opportunities, discipline and strong moral values are essential to sustaining success.
“Education without discipline is empty. Culture without values is lost. We must bring back the discipline that our forefathers taught us. That is what keeps a family, a community and a nation together,” Sando stressed.
He encouraged the graduates to remain humble, disciplined and connected to their cultural roots while applying the knowledge acquired at GONET Academy to create employment opportunities, establish businesses and contribute to the development of their communities.
Eight Students Recognized
The eight beneficiaries and their respective professional development disciplines are:
1. Korpo Sevelee — Public Relations and Media Strategy
2. Mohammed A. Kabbah — Effective Communication and Public Speaking
3. Prosper E. Flomo — Effective Communication and Public Speaking
4. Sarifena M. Soribah — Effective Communication and Public Speaking
5. Bendu M. Kamara — Human Resources Management
6. Famata J. Kanneh — Entrepreneurship and Business Management
7. M. Samuel Jallah — Entrepreneurship and Business Management
8. Boakai A. Kamara — Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation
The ceremony attracted family members, friends, youth leaders, members of the Lofa community in Monrovia and faculty members of GONET Academy.
Among the distinguished guests was Dr. James Francis Davis, Senior International Consultant at the African Development Bank (AfDB), who congratulated the graduates and commended Sando for investing in youth development.
Davis said the scholarship initiative reflects the broader vision of youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development, describing it as an example other well-meaning Liberians should emulate.
He also encouraged the graduates to use their newly acquired skills to pursue professional opportunities and contribute meaningfully to national development.
GONET Academy’s Role in Professional Development
GONET Academy provides professional and career-oriented training programs designed to equip university students and young professionals with practical skills for employment, entrepreneurship and the broader labor market.
Its Continuous Professional Development program focuses on bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical workplace requirements.
The academy operates under the motto: “Empowering The Generation Through Quality Education For The Redemption Of Our Land From Poverty.”
The graduation celebration concluded with prayers for the graduates, the presentation of certificates of completion, family photographs and a gathering at Sando’s residence in Old Road, Sinkor.
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