By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia — Gonet Academy will train 85 staff members of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in professional and technical programs under a Memorandum of Understanding signed Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The deal, signed at the Ministry’s central office at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, is intended to strengthen workplace competencies and improve public service delivery.
The signing follows Gonet Academy’s graduation of approximately 937 professionals on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from an enrollment of 1,022. The partnership is scheduled for implementation from November 2026 to May 2027. Both institutions said the arrangement reflects their shared commitment to investing in human capital and strengthening public institutions’ capacity to deliver quality services to the Liberian people.
Under the agreement, the 85 beneficiaries will enroll in three of Gonet Academy’s professional development programs. Thirty-five staff members will undertake the Foundation Certificate Program, another 35 will enroll in the Professional Diploma Program, and 15 will participate in the Comprehensive Professional Program.
Participants have been drawn from various departments of the Ministry, including Administration, Children and Social Protection, Gender, and Research, Policy and Planning. According to the agreement, the training is designed to help staff develop practical competencies relevant to their responsibilities while strengthening the Ministry’s overall institutional capacity.
The MOU was signed on behalf of the Ministry by Hon. Garmai S. Tokpah, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Protection, who represented the Minister and the Ministry. Mohammed Kerkulah, Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of Gonet Academy, signed on behalf of the Academy.
Also present at the ceremony were Antoinette N. Nimely, Human Resources Manager; Charles G. Kpan, Jr., Strategy, Partnerships and Institutional Development Lead; Levi Singbeh, Marketing, Brand and Communications Lead; Jocial F. Roberts, Executive Assistant; and Christina G. Heah, Content and Media Assistant, all of Gonet Academy.
The partnership covers 15 areas of professional and technical development: Asset and Investment Management; Database Administration and Management; Human Resource Management; Microsoft Office Productivity; Monitoring and Evaluation; Office Administration and Management; Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Project Management; Office Administration and Executive Support; Gender and Development; Financial Management; Internal Audit and Control; Strategic Planning and Resource Mobilization; Public Sector Planning, Policy and Development; and Technical Report Writing.
According to the agreement, these focus areas are intended to strengthen administrative efficiency, technical expertise, leadership, institutional planning, accountability, and effective service delivery.
Beyond classroom instruction, Gonet Academy will provide qualified training specialists, structured learning materials, practical assessments, participant performance monitoring, training coordination, and certification for staff who successfully complete their respective program requirements.
The agreement also provides for phased training delivery, periodic progress reporting, and a comprehensive final assessment report to document participants’ progress, achievements, and learning outcomes.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kerkulah said the Academy is committed to delivering practical, career-oriented professional education that empowers individuals and strengthens institutional performance.
He expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Government of Liberia for recognizing the importance of investing in public sector workforce development and for creating opportunities for qualified local training institutions to contribute to national capacity-building efforts.
Kerkulah welcomed Gonet Academy’s selection among the institutions entrusted with supporting the initiative, saying it demonstrated the value of collaboration between government institutions and homegrown professional training providers.
He said the Academy would work to ensure the partnership delivers measurable outcomes and practical competencies that participants can apply in their respective departments and professional responsibilities.
In a statement, Gonet Academy said it views the partnership as more than the signing of an agreement or the enrollment of 85 public servants, describing it as an opportunity to contribute directly to strengthening the professional capacity of individuals whose work supports the protection, empowerment, and well-being of women, children, and vulnerable populations across Liberia.
The Academy said its focus during implementation will remain on quality training, practical learning, effective coordination, measurable outcomes, and institutional impact. It expressed appreciation to the Ministry for the confidence placed in the institution and said it anticipated a productive partnership that creates lasting value for the participating staff, the Ministry, and the people of Liberia.
Gonet Academy is an accredited technical and vocational education institution in Monrovia, Liberia, focused on career advancement and professional development. Founded by Kerkulah, Gonet Academy has trained more than 5,000 professionals across all 15 counties of Liberia.
