The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and with support from international development partners, has dedicated the country’s first purpose-built National Hospitality Training Center, marking a major step toward strengthening Liberia’s tourism industry and preparing young people for employment opportunities in the hospitality sector.
The modern facility, located at the upgraded Business and Domestic Occupational Training Center (BDOTC) campus in Paynesville, was officially dedicated Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a ceremony attended by senior government officials, development partners, educators, and private sector representatives.
The center represents one of Liberia’s largest investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), providing hands-on, industry-focused learning in a real hotel and restaurant environment.
The facility is also designed to address critical skills shortages within Liberia’s hospitality industry by training young Liberians in key areas such as food production, beverage services, front office operations, accommodation management, and customer service.
The project was implemented through a partnership between the Government of Liberia, the European Union (EU), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the Institute for International Cooperation and Development (IECD).
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, who officially received the facility on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, described the center as a significant investment in Liberia’s human capital development and workforce transformation agenda.
Koung urged those responsible for managing the facility to ensure that it remains focused on its primary purpose of equipping Liberians with practical skills.
“We receive it, take care of it, for the purpose for which this project was constructed,” Vice President Koung said.
He expressed appreciation to Liberia’s development partners for supporting the initiative, particularly the European Union, UNIDO, AFD, and IECD.
“Thank you ever so much for this project,” he said.
According to the Vice President, the facility responds to one of the major weaknesses in Liberia’s education system — the gap between classroom learning and practical workplace experience.
“Most times we go to school, they’re just theories. And you talk about these things in class without physically seeing them. Sometimes you graduate with a degree and you get out there, the practical aspect is not there,” Koung explained.
He said improving hospitality standards and customer service is critical if Liberia is to fully benefit from its tourism potential.
“Customer service, hospitality is a major problem we got in this country. And I know with this, the new Liberia is setting in,” he stated.
However, Koung cautioned that the facility must not be transformed into a commercial venture at the expense of its training mandate.
“This is not here for money making. It’s about training our people,” he emphasized.
Delivering the keynote address, Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA) Director General Princess Eva Cooper described the center as a fulfillment of a commitment made to Liberia’s youth and a key component of the country’s tourism development strategy.
“This is more than the opening of a new facility. It is a representation that the fulfillment of a promise made to young Liberians is being achieved today,” Cooper said.
She said tourism must no longer be treated as a secondary sector in Liberia’s economic development plans.
“Tourism is no longer an afterthought in Liberia’s development strategy. It is a priority,” she declared.
Cooper noted that Liberia has enormous tourism potential through its beaches, cultural heritage, and natural attractions, but warned that these resources alone cannot transform the sector without skilled professionals capable of delivering quality services.
“Beauty alone is not enough. We need skilled hands to welcome the world,” she said.
Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia W. Kruah described the facility as a groundbreaking approach to TVET education, comparing it to teaching hospitals where medical students gain practical experience before entering the workforce.
“Just as our teaching hospitals train the next generation of doctors and nurses by placing them in a real clinical setting, this teaching hotel will train the next generation of Liberia’s hospitality workforce by placing them in a real hotel with real guests, real pressure, and real vendors,” Kruah said.
She disclosed that the facility would operate under a public-private partnership model to ensure sustainability, industry relevance, and alignment with labor market demands.
Education Minister Jarso Maley Jallah praised the initiative as an example of effective collaboration between government and development partners, saying it represents a shift in how Liberia views vocational education.
“We are changing the narrative of technical vocational education in the country,” she said.
Jallah explained that TVET should no longer be viewed as an option only for those unable to pursue traditional academic pathways but as a critical route to employment, entrepreneurship, and national development.
IECD Country Director Alexandra Vial said the center represents an investment not only in infrastructure but also in Liberia’s young people and future workforce.
“Today is more than the opening of a new building. It is the opening of new opportunities,” Vial said.
She emphasized that the true measure of success for TVET programs is not only the facilities constructed but the number of young people who acquire skills, secure employment, and build sustainable careers.
Meanwhile, the Chief of the Fair Production, Sustainability and Trade Division at UNIDO described the opening as a celebration of partnership and a shared commitment to empowering Liberia’s youth.
“Today is more than a ceremony. It is a celebration of partnerships, commitment, and a shared belief in the potential of Liberia’s young people,” she said.
She credited the European Union, AFD, IECD, UNIDO, and the Government of Liberia for working together to make the project possible.
According to her, the European Union financed the infrastructure through the Youth Rising Project, while other partners contributed equipment, technical expertise, and institutional support to ensure the center becomes a sustainable training institution.
She said Liberia’s hospitality and tourism sectors have significant potential to create jobs but stressed that this can only happen through practical, demand-driven training that responds to industry needs.
She encouraged private sector companies to recruit graduates from the institution, saying students trained at the facility would possess practical experience required by employers.
“I encourage businesses to recruit graduates from this institution because they will possess the practical experience that industry requires,” she said.
She also encouraged students to maximize the opportunity created by the facility, reminding them that investment in youth skills development remains one of the strongest pathways toward national transformation.
