Ganta, Nimba County – The government of Liberia, in collaboration with development partners such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), has pledged its support toward youth development initiatives across the country.
By Franklin Doloquee, Nimba County
The commitment was made during the National Youth Consultation Summit of the Future, held in Ganta, Nimba County, under the theme: “Our Voice, Our Aspirations, Our Future.” The summit brought together youth organizations from all 15 counties to seek government and international support for addressing critical issues affecting young people in their communities.
Participants highlighted major challenges such as the influence of drugs, the lack of youth empowerment programs, scholarships, vocational training, and rehabilitation centers. The summit provided a platform for these young leaders to discuss their concerns and seek solutions from the government and its development partners, including UNFPA, UN Women, UNDP, and YMCA.
The event also allowed youth representatives to engage with government officials and international partners, discussing how to enhance their lives through collaboration with global youth organizations. The summit was seen as an eye-opener, providing participants with the knowledge and opportunities to move forward.
Representatives from various youth organizations expressed their views during the summit.
Melvin J. Jones from the Liberia Scout Association, Jamama SayJue Tweh from the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, and Evangeline D. Sirleaf from the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) Gender Department emphasized the importance of the gathering in empowering young people and preventing them from being used for political violence, as had happened in the past.
Jamesetta Monah Cooper, Nimba County coordinator for YMCA, stressed that drug abuse is a major issue among young people in Liberia and called for more government intervention to combat this problem.
Banica S. Elliott, president of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), highlighted the positive role youth organizations played during the recent peaceful elections and noted that the knowledge gained at the summit would further enhance their work.
Deputy Representative Leonard Kamugisha of UNFPA pledged his organization’s continued support for initiatives that promote unity and development among young people. He noted that UNFPA has been assisting Liberia since 1979 and remains committed to supporting the country’s youth.
Liberia’s Senior Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Fohn Toe Gborweah Sr., described the summit as a significant boost for President Joseph Boakai’s government, noting that such opportunities were previously unavailable to young people. He urged the future leaders of Liberia to seize this opportunity to drive positive change.
UN Women and YMCA also reiterated their commitment to supporting youth development activities across the country, expressing gratitude to the government for facilitating the summit.
Youth and Sports Minister Counselor J. Cole Bangalu, addressing the gathering, acknowledged that 75 percent of Liberia’s young population lacks access to essential human needs. He praised the summit as a positive step toward addressing these issues and pledged the ministry’s commitment to supporting youth activities across the country. Minister Bangalu also noted that the summit allowed young people to voice their concerns and formulate a position statement on their needs, which will guide future government and partner interventions.
The National Youth Consultation Summit of the Future concluded with a call for increased support for skills training, youth empowerment, job opportunities, and improved access to public facilities for people with disabilities. Participants also advocated for reduced fees at public universities to make higher education more accessible to all Liberians.
Ganta, Nimba County – The government of Liberia, in collaboration with development partners such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), has pledged its support toward youth development initiatives across the country.
The commitment was made during the National Youth Consultation Summit of the Future, held in Ganta, Nimba County, under the theme: “Our Voice, Our Aspirations, Our Future.” The summit brought together youth organizations from all 15 counties to seek government and international support for addressing critical issues affecting young people in their communities.
Participants highlighted major challenges such as the influence of drugs, the lack of youth empowerment programs, scholarships, vocational training, and rehabilitation centers. The summit provided a platform for these young leaders to discuss their concerns and seek solutions from the government and its development partners, including UNFPA, UN Women, UNDP, and YMCA.
The event also allowed youth representatives to engage with government officials and international partners, discussing how to enhance their lives through collaboration with global youth organizations. The summit was seen as an eye-opener, providing participants with the knowledge and opportunities to move forward.
Representatives from various youth organizations expressed their views during the summit.
Melvin J. Jones from the Liberia Scout Association, Jamama SayJue Tweh from the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, and Evangeline D. Sirleaf from the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) Gender Department emphasized the importance of the gathering in empowering young people and preventing them from being used for political violence, as had happened in the past.
Jamesetta Monah Cooper, Nimba County coordinator for YMCA, stressed that drug abuse is a major issue among young people in Liberia and called for more government intervention to combat this problem.
Banica S. Elliott, president of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), highlighted the positive role youth organizations played during the recent peaceful elections and noted that the knowledge gained at the summit would further enhance their work.
Deputy Representative Leonard Kamugisha of UNFPA pledged his organization’s continued support for initiatives that promote unity and development among young people. He noted that UNFPA has been assisting Liberia since 1979 and remains committed to supporting the country’s youth.
Liberia’s Senior Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Fohn Toe Gborweah Sr., described the summit as a significant boost for President Joseph Boakai’s government, noting that such opportunities were previously unavailable to young people. He urged the future leaders of Liberia to seize this opportunity to drive positive change.
UN Women and YMCA also reiterated their commitment to supporting youth development activities across the country, expressing gratitude to the government for facilitating the summit.
Youth and Sports Minister Counselor J. Cole Bangalu, addressing the gathering, acknowledged that 75 percent of Liberia’s young population lacks access to essential human needs. He praised the summit as a positive step toward addressing these issues and pledged the ministry’s commitment to supporting youth activities across the country. Minister Bangalu also noted that the summit allowed young people to voice their concerns and formulate a position statement on their needs, which will guide future government and partner interventions.
The National Youth Consultation Summit of the Future concluded with a call for increased support for skills training, youth empowerment, job opportunities, and improved access to public facilities for people with disabilities. Participants also advocated for reduced fees at public universities to make higher education more accessible to all Liberians.
