MONROVIA: Several beneficiaries of Liberia Digital Transformation Program (LDTP), have applauded President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Government of Liberia for the step taken towards youth empowerment through digitalization across the country.
It can be recalled that in January 2024, President Boakai, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), promised to train 10,000 Liberian youths in various digital skills to enhance their capacity for entrepreneurship and employability.
Also, on May 1, 2024, President Boakai launched the LDTP program for the training of 10,000 Liberian youth.
Phase one of the training began on Monday, August 12, 2024, in the counties of Montserrado, Maryland, Bong, River Gee, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Gbarpolu, Nimba (Ganta, Tappita); and Margibi (Kakata and Harbel).
Our reporter in an exclusive interview with some of the participants of the digital program at Noah’s Ark High School in Gardnersville expressed excitement for the program and appreciated the President for the opportunity in empowering the youth of Liberia.
Leroy Dennis of the General Digital Skills session said the LDTP is an opportunity for the young people of Liberia and also a good learning platform that has been organized by President Boakai.
“I want to say a big thank you to his Excellency, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, for organizing such training program for us, (young people) of Liberia to be able to learn,” Leroy said.
Leroy believes that the digital program will help to enlighten their minds, educate and prepare them to fit in the society for development.
“Thank you to the President and to my fellow youth, let us take every opportunity very serious; with this training, I will go out there, into the bigger world and contribute what I will learn from this digital training program,” he added.
Leroy also encouraged his fellow participants to take the program serious.
“This program is real and it was organized by our president to help empower we, (the young people), to be able to learn and do something for ourselves for tomorrow. So, I am taking this time to encourage all of us to take it serious in order to learn something”.
Also speaking, Jessica Doe of the General Digital Skills session said, she feels positive about the program.
According to her, through this program, she is experiencing a good learning environment, new skills and knowledge.
“My heartfelt gratitude to the President and his supportive staff for organizing such an amazing training program for the youth of Liberia,” she stated.
Jessica indicated that the program will help her greatly and she is going to implement the knowledge and skills acquired from the training effectively for improvement of the Liberian society and beyond.
“I will like to encourage all participants of this training that we shouldn’t just learn and sit, we should be able to go out there and implement it,” she said.
She also appealed to President Boakai that such opportunity should continue in the country so that Liberia can be a better place because the world is advancing on a daily basis.
So, it is important for the young people to go out and digitalize the country.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and Liberia Digital Transformation Program (LDTP), Mr. Abdullah L. Kamara, has disclosed that young people’s interest for the training went far beyond the organizers’ expectations with the registration of 12,000 youth of which 38% are females, and 500 are People With Disabilities.
Mr. Kamara said, the program has 45 training centers throughout the country.
He stated that during the program participants will be trained in Computer Literacy, Smart Phone Literacy, Digital Marketing, Digital Survey and E-commerce.
He also announced that they have reserved US$250,000 as seed funding for participants and participants with brilliant idea will be encouraged to compete in the digital space and those that will be successful will be awarded seed funding to start up a business online.
“Some of the students will be given scholarships at universities for full years through ICT studies,” he stated.
Mr. Kamara also thanked the President for the bold step and entrusting the program team to deliver on his promise.
He also thanked his colleagues of the digital training steering committee including the Minister of Education, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Minister of Youth and Sports and Commissioners of the Liberia Telecommunications Authorities .
He thanked the training partners in the 15 counties for the support including youth organizations, Liberia National Students Union (LINSU), Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) and Mano River Youth Parliament (MRU) for their valuable contributions and active involvement in the project.
The LTA boss also encouraged Liberians to educate and empower the youth of Liberia through digitalization. Writes Linda Gbartie, also a trainee
