-Participants call for extension
By Vaye A. Lepolu
The Liberia Digital Transformation Training Program, which commenced on August 12, 2024, and is set to conclude on August 23, 2024, spans all 15 counties. Participants are advocating for an extension of the National Digital Skills Program to better accommodate their learning needs.
This initiative aims to equip 10,000 young Liberians with essential digital competencies in the first half of 2024. The program focuses on various areas, including Basic Digital Skills, E-Commerce, Digital Marketing, and Digital Surveys, with the goal of preparing the next generation to excel in the digital economy. Currently, the Liberia Goes Digital Program is benefiting 12,000 participants, exceeding initial expectations.
Participants have expressed concerns that the ten-day duration of the program is insufficient for mastering complex computer programming skills. They are urging the government to extend the program’s timeline to enhance their learning experience and ensure comprehensive knowledge acquisition.
Many participants have praised President Joseph N. Boakai for his commitment to improving digital skills among the youth, stating that the initiative is having a positive impact on their lives. They are now calling on the President and the Liberia National Legislature to consider extending the program duration, emphasizing the need for additional support to sustain the Liberia Goes Digital Program.
As the training progresses, participants are expressing their gratitude to President Boakai for providing them with invaluable digital skills. They are enthusiastic about the knowledge they are gaining and are advocating for an extension of the program from ten days to at least six months. This extended timeframe would allow them to explore the courses more thoroughly and truly master the digital skills being taught.
One female participant shared her excitement about being part of the training program, highlighting how it has significantly enhanced her life. She expressed heartfelt appreciation for this initiative and suggested that opportunities for participants to volunteer and apply their newly acquired skills should be made available.
The Liberia Digital Training Program is currently underway, with students making steady progress in enhancing their digital proficiency. During a recent tour of training sites across Montserrado, Mr. Wonyie V. Zarwhea, Executive Director of the Liberia Digital Training Program, encouraged participants to remain focused and committed to their training. He also welcomed their feedback on the program’s various aspects.
The training is being conducted at multiple locations, including the NVTI Campus, Blue Crest University, BW Harris, and other sites throughout Montserrado County.
Digital transformation is poised to significantly impact Liberia by driving economic growth, improving public services, and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens. By integrating digital technologies across various sectors, Liberia can streamline operations, increase efficiency, and foster innovation. This transformation is expected to create new job opportunities, empower businesses through eCommerce, and improve access to education and healthcare.
The program aims to empower individuals with essential digital skills through comprehensive training and support. It promotes e-business solutions and smart technologies by establishing appropriate technological and media frameworks. Moreover, it focuses on tech education in specific areas such as eCommerce, Digital Marketing, Computer Basics, and Digital Surveys, while also empowering tech entrepreneurs with seed funding for sustainable solutions that address local challenges.
Meanwhile, the Liberia Digital Transformation Program (LDTP) training program which has commenced across 12 counties, Montserrado, Maryland, Bong, River Gee, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Gbarpolu, Ganta, Tapita, Kakata, and Harbel has more females participants with 38% out of 12,000 participants.
The Liberia Digital Transformation Program (LDTP) was launched by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on May 1, 2024, to empower and train 10,000 Liberian youth through various digital skills to enhance their capacity for entrepreneurship and employability.
President Boakai in his State of the Nation Address in January 2024 vowed to train 10,000 Liberian youths in various digital skills to enhance their capacity for entrepreneurship and employability.
Interestingly, the training which commences on August 12, 2024, has a significant number of women in attendance. The Chairman of Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and Liberia Digital Transformation Program (LDTP), Mr. Abdullah L. Kamara has announced that they received 12,000 registrants for the program, and out of that number 38% are females while 500 are Persons With Disabilities (PWD)
According to Mr. Kamara, the youth interest in the training went way beyond their expectations, especially with the huge number of females that registered. He indicated that the training has 45 training centers throughout the country that are partnering with the program and during the program participants will be trained in Computer Literacy, Smart Phone Literacy, Digital Marketing, Digital Survey, and E-commerce.
Mr. Kamara also disclosed that they have reserved US$250,000 as seed funding for participants and participants with brilliant ideas 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.
The LTA boss thanked the President for the bold step and for entrusting the program team to deliver on his promise including 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 at the Liberia Telecommunications Authorities.
He also thanked the training partners in the 15 counties for their support including youth organizations, 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
For their part, some of the participants speaking to this paper appreciated the President for his commitment to youth empowerment through digitalization. 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.
Speaking to participants at one of the training centers in Gardnersville, Abigail Zean participant in the E-commerce training session stated that the training is a great opportunity for the young people of Liberia and a good learning platform that has been organized by the President to enhance their knowledge and skills. “I want to say a big thank you to His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for organizing such training for we the young people of Liberia to be able to learn,” Leroy said.
Abigail believes that the digital program will help to enlighten their minds, and educate and prepare them to fit in society. “Thank you again to the President and my fellow youth let us take every opportunity very seriously; with this training, I will go out there into the bigger world and contribute to others based on what I have learned from this digital training program,” he added.
Abigail also encouraged her fellow participants to take the program seriously adding that “this program is real and it was organized by our president to help empower us the young people to be able to learn and do something for ourselves tomorrow so, I am taking this time to encourage them whenever we see opportunity somewhere we should be able to rush and take it seriously to learn something”.
Patricia Karteh, participant of the General Digital Skills training 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.
