Vice Howard-Taylor said rebuilding the country is a process, which requires all hands on deck, if a prosperous future is to be secured for all Liberians.
The Vice President was speaking Monday, November 5 at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) in Paynesville, during the official launch of a 45-day specialized training program intended to enhance the skills of 100 MVTC graduates selected through a vigorous vetting process.
“Each of us must keep in mind that the rebuilding process is exactly a process which requires the full commitment of all players, keeping in mind that it is only by doing so, that we can construct a secured future for ourselves, our families and our nation,” said the Vice President.
“As I often times optimistically declare, with all hands on deck, all of us, – public, private, and the community – working together to encourage our youth to take advantage of skills training, we can be assured that the natural talents of young Liberians will be properly harnessed and our country will be developed as we want it to be,”.
She vowed the commitment of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Government, led by President George Manneh Weah, will invest more in education, including technical, vocational education and training (TVET), adding the government will intensify the campaign for such training through the Task Force on TVET led by Minister D. Zeogar Wilson.
VP Howard-Taylor indicated that the provision of education and training of young people has been a long-term goal of President Weah before assuming the mantle of authority. She said it was predicated upon that, the sector was enshrined in Pillar One of the recently launched “Pro-Poor” Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
She praised Min. Wilson and his administration for working continuously hard in support of achieving the president’s goal.
The enhancement training, which began immediately after its official opening, is being provided by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the PRC Government’s Overseas Vocational and Skills Training Program.
Running up to December 15, the exercise is being implemented by staff from the China-based Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College.
In remarks, China’s Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Fu Jijun, said the training is one of China’s assistance projects to Liberia for 2018.
The Chinese envoy said that human resource development would remain a significant field of China-Liberia collaboration.
“China has helped Liberia to build some projects at Fendell Campus of the University of Liberia, Liberia Vocational and Technology School and primary schools, provided thousands of scholarships to Liberian students for their bachelor, master and PhD degree studies, as well as provided short o long-term training opportunities,” he recounted.
The Chinese diplomat reaffirmed China’s willingness to share its experiences with African countries, including Liberia, for in their strides to achieve their development and prosperity dreams.
At the same time, Ambassador Jijun promised his country’s commitment to providing more scholarships and training opportunities to Liberia. China would do its best in supporting the Government and People of Liberia to achieve their “glorious vision” in the PAPD, he continued.
Meanwhile, Minister of Youth and Sports D. Zeogar Wilson lauded the Government and People of China for being true friends to Liberia’s development programs, especially by supporting a program that is in line with the first pillar of the country’s development agenda: the PAPD.
Wilson asserted that building the capacity of youth to make them marketable for employment is cardinal to youth development.
“The Pro-Poor Agenda is working in plain sight and this is what we are seeing today. I want to call on you, the beneficiaries of this program, to make use of the opportunity being provided to you,” Minister Wilson urged.
“Put your all into it because if you allow it slip from your hands, you might never get it again,” he noted.
The minister also lauded the Vice President Howard-Taylor for her continued dedication and commitment to youth development initiatives, especially programs designed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.