By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia, June 2, 2025 – The Director General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) of Liberia, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., has revealed that Liberia is entering a period of national renewal, with a strong focus on job creation and private sector development.
According to Dr. Joekai, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued a clear directive to the CSA and the Ministry of Labor to jointly craft a comprehensive national strategy aimed at promoting job creation in the private sector.
The strategy will include enforcing labor laws that reserve certain categories of employment exclusively for Liberians, mandating that concessions provide equitable hiring opportunities, and reducing overreliance on the public sector while promoting a more efficient and professional civil service.
Dr. Joekai made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the graduation ceremony of Gonet Academy’s 11th Cohort, held on May 30, 2025, at the Harvest Intercontinental Ministries Unlimited on Tubman Boulevard in Monrovia. The event drew a large audience of dignitaries, family members, and supporters.
“This moment represents a national milestone, a movement that symbolizes hope, resilience, and progress,” Dr. Joekai declared.
A total of 750 graduates received training in key professional areas, including project management, financial leadership, entrepreneurship, monitoring and evaluation, communications, procurement, internal audit, logistics, human resource management, occupational health and safety, and data analysis.
Dr. Joekai, who also chairs the Board of the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP), emphasized the importance of ethics and hospitality in leadership. He proposed that the CSA partners with Gonet Academy to establish a direct pipeline connecting trained professionals to employment opportunities in both businesses and concession operations.
“This is more than a graduation ceremony,” he said. “It’s a declaration that Liberia is investing in her own sons and daughters to lead the nation’s renewal. It is a celebration of discipline and purpose, and a declaration to the world that Liberia is rising, powered by the brilliance, skills, and commitment of her own people.”
He praised Gonet Academy’s contribution to national development, saying the institution is doing more than issuing certificates, it is building capacity, restoring dignity, and unlocking new possibilities for Liberia’s next generation.
With the launch of its digital management system, Gonet Academy has created a virtual platform to connect Liberians at home and abroad with educational and professional development resources.
Turning to the graduates, Dr. Joekai said: “This day belongs to you, your families, your instructors, and all those who believe in your potential. But most importantly, it belongs to Liberia, for in you lies the promise of her future.”
“To every young person listening today, do not wait. The future belongs to those who learn, adapt, and act,” he urged. “Let me be clear: when these jobs are created, you are the target. This is your moment and your opportunity.”
Issuing a powerful challenge to the graduates, he added: “Don’t stop here. Don’t just seek jobs, create them. You’ve been trained in entrepreneurship, business communication, logistics, and project design. You have the tools to launch consultancies, start businesses, train others, and build wealth for yourselves and your communities. Liberia will not rise on job seekers alone. It will rise on job creators and visionaries.”
Gonet Academy is a premier institution for continuous professional development. It offers industry-relevant and high-impact programs designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and tools, and networks needed to succeed in today’s dynamic workforce. Editing by Jonathan Browne
