Monrovia – President George Weah has warned parents in Liberia against limiting their children from pursuing quality education to streets selling and others.
Pres. Weah said the need to create a brighter future for Liberian youths must not be overlooked; adding: “Limiting their education has the ability to create future difficulties for them.”
The Liberian leader expressed concern over some street-selling kids not being in school, emphasizing the need for their business skills to be backed by quality schooling.
Speaking Monday, July 22, at the dedication of the Smart Liberia Youth Center in Monrovia, President Weah said the need for young people to maximize their potentials is important, and can only be achieved through quality education.
“Children can be in the market and still going to school. When you put a kid in the market, it’s a form of education but there is a theoretical education that those children should follow,” President Weah asserted.
He referenced himself as an exemplary to difficulties he encountered for not pursuing higher education after his entertainment career, which accordingly compelled him to seek further university education.
“I am a living example of what education is. I spent 20 something years of my life as an entertainer, but I found a reason after my entertainment that the best place to go was school,” Weah narrated.
“Education is the essence to life. Without education, life will be difficult.”
According to the Liberia leader, delay in educational advancement should not deprive anyone from pursuing further education, admonishing Liberians yet to advance their education to do so.
Weah in the same way praised Smart-Liberia for embarking on a youth hub project, noting that it is the best way to encourage young people in the country to pursue education and to follow their career path.
President Weah then pledged his administration’s readiness to help Smart Liberia carries its dream ahead in taking young Liberians from the streets to get involved with positive initiatives that will improve their lives.
For his part, Youth and Sports Minister D, Zoegar Wilson sees the Smart Liberia Youth Hub as a demonstration that youth development does not only rely on government alone.
Mr. Wilson wants other youths in Liberia to embark on similar venture that would benefit the country.
At the same time, Smart Liberia Executive Director Marvin R. Tarawally recognizes the efforts of struggling parents to educate their children in Liberia.
“Millions of young people in our country are looking for opportunities to make a difference, but most of these young people lack these opportunities sometimes, because of where they were born or the family of which they were born,” Tarawally stated.
“These challenges,” according to him, “must be challenged collectively. Our country is falling behind because we are mixing up on the credible potential of our youthful population, with 60% remaining the most underrepresented in most sectors of our economy.”
Tarawally attributed the under representation of the country’s youthful population to lack of education, skills training and experience which he said needs urgent attention.
He, however, believes access to quality education and effective training will help address these challenges.
In the same way, Tarawally noted that Smart Liberia stands ready to help address some of these challenges through its entrepreneur skills training if only the needed support is given.
He at the same time registered that the Smart Liberia Youth Hub was initiated through support from various national and international partners, who he lauded.
Tarawally said Smart Liberia will continue to provide quality training for youths in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership skills and business development skills, among others.