Monrovia – The Government of Liberia, in partnership with the European Union and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has officially broken ground for the construction of Robertsport’s first Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Hospitality and Tourism Training Center under the Youth Rising Project.
The ceremony, held at the Tubman Cultural Center site in Robertsport, marks a major milestone in Liberia’s push to expand technical education and unlock the economic potential of its tourism sector.
The facility represents Phase II of the Youth Rising Project, a nationwide initiative aimed at establishing TVET institutions across all 15 counties.
Speaking at the ceremony, Liberia’s Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Mallay-Jallah, emphasized the importance of partnership and local ownership in driving development.
“I’m pleased to be here today and to see such strong partnership and presence around this opportunity,” she said. “We are thankful to our partners, the European Union, and most importantly to the leadership of Cape Mount County. Because if you didn’t agree to work along with us, we wouldn’t be here.”
She also acknowledged the instrumental role of Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabah M. Varpillah in securing the land for the project.
“She played an instrumental role in ensuring that we get this deed and all of what we needed to get the land ready,” the Minister noted.
Dr. Mallay-Jallah used the occasion to call on other counties to expedite land acquisition processes for similar projects, stressing that development partners require confidence in land ownership before committing resources.
“Time is of the essence, and we must deliver for the Liberian people,” she said.
Highlighting Liberia’s vast natural assets, the Education Minister pointed to the country’s more than 300 miles of coastline as a transformative opportunity.
“That alone can transform Liberia,” she declared. “But it takes us. The partners can come and provide all the funding, but it takes Liberians.”
She stressed that the Robertsport training center is designed to bridge the gap between tourism activity and local economic benefit.
“Tourism here is real, but it’s not yet structured in a way that allows local people to fully benefit from it,” she said. “This is the gap we are addressing with this project.”
The center will provide practical training in hospitality, eco-tourism, and small business development, equipping young people with skills directly linked to existing economic activities in the area.
“These are not abstract skills,” she added. “They are directly linked to the activity already taking place in this town.”
Delivering remarks on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., Dr. Augustine Konneh described the project as a turning point in Liberia’s development narrative.
“We are not merely here for a groundbreaking; we are laying the foundation for a new chapter in Liberia’s development story,” he said.
He underscored the project’s alignment with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, particularly its focus on human capital development and youth empowerment.
“Through this project, our young people are no longer passive observers; they are becoming active architects of Liberia’s prosperity,” Konneh stated.
He also praised the European Union for its continued support.
“Your sustained investment is not simply development assistance; it is a strategic partnership in nation building,” he said.
Providing an overview of the initiative,
Assistant Minister for STEM, TVET and SIE at the Ministry of Education, Nathaniel K. Cisco, Jr., said Phase I of the Youth Rising Project successfully established TVET centers in several counties, including Margibi, Montserrado, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Maryland, and Lofa.
Phase II, he explained, will expand to additional counties, including Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Bomi, River Gee, Grand Kru, River Cess, Grand Bassa, and Nimba.
“Upon completion of this project, TVET will have a presence in all 15 counties of Liberia,” Cisco announced. “This means that high school students as well as post-secondary community members will have access to quality skills training right within their counties.”
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations system, UNICEF Liberia Country Representative Andy Brooks praised the initiative as a critical step toward addressing youth unemployment.
“This is very much in line with the President’s commitment toward addressing youth employment and providing opportunities for the many young people of this country,” he said.
Brooks highlighted the broader UN collaboration supporting education in Liberia, including UNESCO’s role in curriculum development, the World Food Programme’s school feeding initiatives, and UNICEF’s focus on foundational and digital education.
EU Delegation Governance Team Leader Anna Brzozowska noted that the tourism component of the project was introduced following alignment with the government’s priorities.
“We restructured our program to align ourselves with this very ambitious agenda which is really transformative for Liberia,” she explained.
She expressed optimism that the project would elevate Robertsport’s global profile.
“This very beautiful place, so full of potential, is not known and is not being developed,” she said. “I believe it is the right moment for us to make this investment.”
The European Union has committed over $800,000 toward the project, which is expected to be completed within nine months.
Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Henry Yonton, described the initiative as part of a broader effort to create sustainable pathways for young people.
“Anything that concerns young people concerns all of us,” he said. “We are now about changing the paradigm where we are finding predictable pathways for all of our young people.”
Meanwhile, Senator Dabah M. Varpillah called on residents to take ownership of the project.
“This center is a pathway for sustainable youth development and by extension, national development,” she said. “Let us support it. Let us own it as our own.”
She emphasized that the project would not only create jobs but also strengthen decentralization and expand opportunities for young people in the county.
“We didn’t have these opportunities,” she reflected. “The President and his team have decided that that will change.”
When completed, the Robertsport TVET Hospitality and Tourism Training Center is expected to serve as a hub for skills development, entrepreneurship, and tourism-driven growth in Grand Cape Mount County and beyond.
As Dr. Mallay-Jallah concluded:
“The building itself will not determine success. What will matter is whether young people in this community are able to earn from the opportunities that already exist around them.”
