Monrovia– The Ministry of Youth and Sports has commemorated International Youth Day 2026 with a renewed call for greater investment in Liberia’s young people and the official relaunch of YouthConnekt Liberia, as government and development partners seek to create stronger pathways for youth empowerment, innovation, employment and digital inclusion.
The celebration, held under the theme “Unified Knowledge, Shared Futures: Liberians Innovating through Digital Partners,” brought together government officials, development partners, youth leaders, civil society representatives and young Liberians.
Making a special statement to young people, Minister of Youth and Sports, Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah, emphasized Liberia’s youthful population, noting that approximately three out of every four Liberians are below the age of 35.
Minister Kruah challenged young Liberians to recognize the responsibility that comes with the country’s youthful demographic, stressing that Liberia’s future will largely be shaped by decisions being made by the current generation.
“Whatever Liberia becomes in the next 20 years, it becomes because of the decisions that we make and that are made by people in this room,” Minister Kruah said.
She urged young people to reject the idea that they must wait for another generation to lead Liberia, emphasizing that they are already active participants in the country’s development.
“You are not the future of this country. You are the current, the present. You are Liberia,” she emphasized.
Minister Kruah described International Youth Day as an opportunity for reflection, accountability and renewed commitment, challenging government and stakeholders to examine whether sufficient investments are being made in Liberia’s majority-young population.
She called for youth priorities to be deliberately incorporated into national planning, budgeting, legislation and other major government decisions, warning that failure to create meaningful opportunities for talented young Liberians could result in wasted potential and the loss of valuable human resources.
From Youth Programs to Youth Pathways
Delivering the keynote address, GONET Academy CEO Mohammed Kerkulah called for a shift from short-term youth interventions toward sustainable pathways linking young people to education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, technology and other opportunities.
Kerkulah said Liberia is not short of talented, creative and ambitious young people, but lacks sufficient systems to connect their potential to meaningful and sustainable opportunities.
He highlighted the challenges confronting graduates seeking employment and young entrepreneurs struggling with limited access to capital, mentorship, markets and business support.
He therefore urged stakeholders to move “from youth programs to youth pathways,” stressing that workshops, certificates, grants and competitions should serve as entry points into sustainable opportunities rather than ending when individual programs conclude.
YouthConnekt Liberia Relaunched
A major highlight of the celebration was the official relaunch of YouthConnekt Liberia, led by Ambassador Aliou Mamadou Dia, UNDP Liberia Country Representative.
Amb. Dia emphasized the importance of investing in young people and creating platforms capable of transforming their ideas, talents and aspirations into tangible opportunities.
He called for stronger partnerships among government, development partners, the private sector, civil society and young people, noting that YouthConnekt will provide platforms connecting young Liberians to opportunities in entrepreneurship, employment, innovation, leadership, digital skills and civic engagement.
Representing the UN Resident Coordinator, Christine Mutoni, and UNFPA, Dr. Mady Biaye commended the Government of Liberia for placing young people at the center of national development.
Delivering a message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Dr. Biaye highlighted young people’s aspirations for dignity, meaningful participation and opportunity while recognizing challenges including economic uncertainty, digital exclusion and climate change.
Presidency Reaffirms Commitment to Youth
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Hon. Bill McGill Jones thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports, development partners and young Liberians for their continued involvement in advancing youth development initiatives.
He said collective efforts have contributed to the National Youth Program, a changing approach to youth development and the creation of new opportunities for young Liberians.
Hon. Jones said International Youth Day provides Liberia with an opportunity to reflect on where the country has come from, where it stands today and where it is heading, particularly concerning its young population.
He highlighted government efforts to create awareness and opportunities while promoting youth-led action through initiatives such as the Pathway Program.
According to Jones, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration remains committed to creating opportunities, promoting self-sufficiency and ensuring that young people take ownership of their future.
He said the President has entrusted young people with responsibilities in government and expects them to help lead the change they want to see.
Jones encouraged young Liberians to prepare themselves, take ownership of their destiny and become active contributors to national development.
He also stressed the importance of bringing young people, the middle-aged and older generations together to develop solutions to Liberia’s national challenges.
“Gone are the days when people said young people were unclean. Today, we are solution finders, we are decision-makers, and we are deciding the destiny of our fate,” Jones said.
LTA Highlights Digital Inclusion
Meanwhile, Liberia Telecommunications Authority Commissioner Clarence Massaquoi praised the Ministry of Youth and Sports for advancing youth development beyond political interests, consistent with President Boakai’s message that the government is for all Liberians.
Commissioner Massaquoi emphasized that young people must be recognized as leaders of today, calling for sustained investment in education, skills development, technology and employment beyond the annual observance of International Youth Day.
On digital inclusion, Massaquoi disclosed that the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has connected 88 of 156 targeted public high schools to high-speed internet as Liberia works toward connecting every public school by 2030.
He further announced a partnership between the LTA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to establish digital hubs across all 15 counties.
The first-year initiative is expected to benefit approximately 750 young people through improved access to technology, digital skills and economic opportunities.
A Shared Commitment to Liberia’s Youth
The celebration of International Youth Day and the relaunch of YouthConnekt Liberia reaffirmed a shared commitment among government, development partners, the private sector, civil society and young people to build stronger and more sustainable pathways for Liberia’s youth.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports emphasized that Liberia’s young people are not merely beneficiaries of national development. They are partners, innovators, entrepreneurs, leaders and drivers of the country’s development today.
