MONROVIA –Liberia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, has concluded her first nationwide tour across five counties Lofa, Margibi, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, and Montserrado unveiling a series of ambitious initiatives targeting education, sports, and economic empowerment.
By: Christopher C. Walker | 0777898224 / 0886723075 | [email protected]
The tour, which marks her early days in office, has set a reform-driven tone for the Ministry, addressing long-standing gaps in grassroots talent discovery and youth employment.
Scholarships to Boost Academic Access
At the center of the Minister’s announcements is the provision of 860 scholarships to public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The distribution of slots reflects a strategic effort to reach rural youth.
The minister disclosed that five counties will have not less than 60 slots for scholarships at universities in Liberia .
Montserrado County has been allocated 500 slots with Lofa, Margibi, and Grand Cape Mount getting 100 slots each while Gbarpolu County will rec 60 slots.
Minister Kruah acknowledged the unique challenges facing Gbarpolu, noting that the Ministry will take on extra financial responsibility for accommodation and feeding, as many beneficiaries from the county will need to relocate to access their assigned institutions.
China Trip for Homegrown Talent
In a move aimed at promoting grassroots footballers, Minister Kruah disclosed that standout players from the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet will be selected to represent Liberia in an amateur football tournament in China this May.
Crucially, the initiative mandates that each county must have at least one homegrown player included in the national squad a policy designed to spotlight local talent often overlooked by elite Monrovia-based clubs.
Overhauling the County Meet
Significant reforms have also been proposed for Liberia’s flagship sporting event, the National County Sports Meet, to restore its original purpose of community-based talent discovery.
The New Proposed Regulations Include Players from the first and second division leagues are now barred from competing.
A strict cap of 22 years old has been introduced and Every county team must include at least 10 homegrown players.
To support these changes, the Ministry’s Bureau of Sports plans to assign dedicated sports coordinators to each county to ensure year-round programming beyond the annual tournament.
Expansion of Youth Employment
In another major policy shift, the Ministry announced the expansion of its cadet program from 150 to 1,350 participants, with the duration extended from three to six months.
Additionally, 1,000 vacation jobs will be provided for high school students.
In a departure from previous years, Minister Kruah emphasized that beneficiaries will be placed in professional environments rather than street-cleaning assignments, aiming to enhance actual career development and workplace skills.
Support for Agriculture and the Arts
Recognizing the diverse interests of Liberian youth, the Minister made specific commitments to the creative and agricultural sectors:
Construction will begin on a first-of-its-kind studio in Kolahun City to support emerging artists.
According to the minister Administrative District Youth leaderships already engaged in farming, particularly in Lofa, will receive Ministry assistance to expand operations.
A New Direction
Observers say Minister Kruah’s tour signals a comprehensive approach to youth development one that integrates education, sports, and economic empowerment.
While implementation challenges remain, especially in logistically difficult areas like Gbarpolu, the commitments have raised high expectations among the nation’s youth.
