By Lewis S. Teh
Ganta, Nimba County, August 6, 2026 – Youth leaders, elders, and stakeholders in Upper Nimba County have been urged to promote responsible leadership, unity, and investment in young people as a foundation for national development.
The call was made during the induction and turnover ceremony of the newly appointed Upper Nimba County Youth Coordinator, held under the theme, “Empowering Liberia’s Youth: Building Responsible Leadership, Sustainable Communities, and a Prosperous Nation.”
Delivering the keynote address, ArcelorMittal Liberia Community Relations Officer Harrison B. Waydon congratulated the new coordinator and described leadership as service rather than merely a title.
“What you assume today is not simply an office; it is a calling to inspire, unite, mentor, advocate, and open doors of opportunity for thousands of young people,” Waydon said, quoting Nelson Mandela that “a good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”
With over 60% of Liberians under age 35, the speaker noted that Nimba reflects the country’s youthful energy, talent, and resilience. This presents what economists call a “demographic dividend”, but only if young people are healthy, educated, skilled, and employed.
“A demographic dividend is never automatic. It must be earned through deliberate investment,” the speaker warned, adding that without investment, youth energy can be diverted into unemployment, drug abuse, crime, and hopelessness.
The speech outlined key challenges facing young people in Nimba and across Liberia: limited access to quality education in rural areas, few pathways to decent work, drug and substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and migration in search of opportunity.
At the same time, the speaker highlighted opportunities. Nimba sits at the center of Liberia’s mining, agriculture, and cross-border trade corridors. Growing partnerships in skills training, entrepreneurship, and the digital economy are creating new pathways, while agriculture is “increasingly recognized as a genuine pathway to enterprise and prosperity.”
The address also connected youth development to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, noting contributions to quality education, decent work, reduced inequalities, and strong institutions. “These goals are not abstract international commitments. They begin in our homes, our schools, our towns, and our counties,” the speaker said.
A central part of the speech condemned the use of young people for political division.
Any effort to turn Liberia’s youth against one another for narrow political gain is an act against the nation itself,” the speaker said. “Political affiliation should never be a reason to see a fellow Liberian as an enemy.” Political actors were urged to “invest in young people’s futures, not in their factions,” while youth were encouraged to reject violence, drugs, and any attempt to be used against one another.
“Guard this office against political manipulation. Let it remain a home for every young person of Upper Nimba, regardless of party, tribe, or persuasion,” the speaker added. Young people were told: “Do not wait for opportunities, create them. Read. Learn practical skills. Start small businesses. Support agriculture. Use technology responsibly. Protect the environment.”
Drawing from his experience as a former student and youth leader, Waydon said leadership is built through service, learning, discipline, and consistency.
The ceremony ended with a call for collective action. “Government alone cannot do it. Parents alone cannot do it… We must do it together — united across our differences,” the speaker said.
“The future of Liberia is not waiting somewhere ahead — it is already taking shape in the hearts, minds, and actions of our young people today. When we invest in our youth, and when we protect them from division, we invest in stronger families, more resilient communities, a thriving economy, and a more prosperous Liberia.”
Participants pledged to work together to make Upper Nimba a model of youth leadership, innovation, peace, and sustainable development.
