Monrovia — The head of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Liberia Office, Dale Gbotoe, has challenged young Liberians to move beyond the traditional pursuit of salaried employment and embrace entrepreneurship as a means of creating jobs, transforming communities and contributing to national development.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Gbotoe made the call over the weekend in Monrovia as the STAD Institute of Entrepreneurship and Business Development (EduSTAD-Liberia) graduated approximately 100 students from its 10th cohort, marking another milestone in the institution’s efforts to strengthen professional skills, entrepreneurship and human capacity development.
Speaking at the ceremony, the WAEC Liberia boss urged graduates to translate their newly acquired knowledge into practical solutions that address challenges confronting their communities, stressing the importance of becoming employers rather than depending exclusively on limited formal employment opportunities.
He praised EduSTAD for its contribution to human capacity development, describing the institution’s decade-long efforts to equip Liberians with professional and entrepreneurial skills as an important contribution to national growth.
Gbotoe encouraged the graduates to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the institution and demonstrate the value of their training through innovation, entrepreneurship and meaningful service to society.
His remarks reinforced a broader call by EduSTAD Chief Executive Officer Stephen Dorsue, who used the occasion to advocate for what he described as a national entrepreneurship revolution, arguing that Liberia’s development challenges extend beyond politics, leadership and foreign investment to inadequate practical skills, limited capacity development and insufficient business creation.
Dorsue maintained that addressing Liberia’s persistent unemployment and economic difficulties requires a fundamental shift from an education system focused primarily on certification and job seeking to one that promotes innovation, enterprise development and employment generation.
“Today is a remarkable day in the life of this institution,” Dorsue told the gathering. “It has been a decade of creating, failing, falling, repairing, dreaming, demanding, dedicating, perfecting, and today, you are completing it.”
According to the EduSTAD CEO, Liberia’s longstanding development difficulties cannot be addressed through political leadership and foreign investment alone without deliberate efforts to equip citizens with the practical knowledge and competencies needed to establish and sustain businesses.
He said institutions such as EduSTAD are helping bridge the country’s skills gap by providing industry-relevant training to entrepreneurs, working professionals and personnel across public and private institutions.
“At EduSTAD, we do not just teach skills; we teach people how to apply those skills in real time,” he said.
Dorsue disclosed that entrepreneurship has become a compulsory component of all 22 programs offered by the institution, reflecting its commitment to preparing graduates to identify economic opportunities and establish businesses rather than depend solely on employment.
He revealed that the institution’s entrepreneurship and business development initiatives have contributed to the establishment of approximately 20 businesses over the past two years, with nearly US$125,000 in startup grants provided to support businesses incubated through the program.
“Participants who entered our programme with zero business knowledge have completed training with fully developed business concepts and operational plans,” he added.
The EduSTAD boss said the results demonstrate the potential of practical entrepreneurship education to stimulate economic activity, strengthen individual livelihoods and create employment opportunities.
He called on the government, development partners, educational institutions, the media and private sector stakeholders to support the introduction of entrepreneurship education throughout Liberia’s educational system, beginning at the elementary level and continuing through university.
“EduSTAD is leading the charge to make entrepreneurship compulsory because we believe it is one of the most sustainable paths toward economic empowerment and job creation,” Dorsue said.
Citing Liberia’s limited formal employment opportunities, Dorsue argued that the country must reconsider its approach to education and workforce development, particularly as thousands of young people continue to enter the labor market with limited prospects for salaried employment.
He estimated that between 78% and 80% of Liberians depend on self-employment or informal economic activities, while formal employment opportunities remain limited and highly competitive.
“These statistics are concerning and are exactly why we are making this national call,” he stated. “We are inviting stakeholders to join us in this revolution.”
Dorsue emphasized that professional education should produce measurable economic outcomes rather than simply increase the number of certificate holders competing for limited vacancies.
“We are on an ambitious mission to shift training and empowerment dynamics from mere certification programmes to business development and job creation,” he declared.
The approximately 100 graduates of Cohort 10 completed three months of intensive professional training in disciplines including data analysis, project management, monitoring and evaluation, office administration, customer service and relationship management, human resource management, business leadership, public speaking, entrepreneurship and business development.
Dorsue said the institution intends to strengthen its training standards, deepen collaboration with regulatory authorities and expand partnerships capable of connecting graduates to professional and entrepreneurial opportunities.
He identified the Ministry of Education and the Accreditation and Institutional Training Board among institutions with which EduSTAD intends to strengthen cooperation.
“Our goal is not simply to hand out certificates, but to ensure that graduates are empowered, connected, and equipped for success,” he said.
The CEO also commended EduSTAD’s staff for their commitment to the institution’s development and expressed appreciation to several partners supporting its programs.
They include the Liberia Revenue Authority, AGL, Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority, Youth Entrepreneurship Network, Orange Digital Center, Liberia UniPod, Ministry of Education and Bloom Bank Africa Liberia Limited.
Meanwhile, delivering the valedictory address, Bendu Padmore challenged her fellow graduates to view their newly acquired qualifications as instruments of service rather than merely credentials for personal advancement.
Speaking on the theme, “Equipped to Serve,” Padmore described the graduation as a celebration of determination, sacrifice and personal growth following three months of intensive training.
“As we gather here today, it is my privilege to stand before you as the valedictorian of Cohort 10, not just to celebrate our accomplishments, but to reflect on our journey and consider the vast professional horizon that lies ahead,” she said.
Padmore stressed that the true value of education lies in the ability of graduates to apply their knowledge to solving problems, creating opportunities and improving the lives of others.
She expressed gratitude to the institution’s facilitators, family members and supporters for their contributions to the graduates’ academic and professional development.
“You have cheered us to our highest heights and comforted us when we felt low. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed,” she stated.
The valedictorian also praised Dorsue’s leadership, describing his establishment of EduSTAD as an example of entrepreneurship driven by the identification of a societal need and the development of a practical solution.
“You identified an educational gap, created a solution through EduSTAD, and are producing efficient professionals who can contribute meaningfully to both the public and private sectors,” Padmore said.
She encouraged her colleagues to uphold integrity, professionalism and excellence as they enter their respective workplaces, establish businesses or pursue further educational opportunities.
“The measure of our success will not be determined solely by the positions we hold, but by the lives we touch, the opportunities we create, and the positive impact we leave behind,” she noted.
Padmore urged members of the graduating cohort to serve as ambassadors of EduSTAD while remaining committed to lifelong learning, innovation and national development.
“Education has equipped us, opportunity awaits us, but it is service that will define us in Liberia and the world at large,” she declared.
The graduation of EduSTAD’s 10th cohort comes amid continuing concerns over youth unemployment, limited formal job opportunities and the need to expand practical skills training in Liberia.
While Gbotoe emphasized the responsibility of graduates to translate education into employment creation and community development, Dorsue maintained that strengthening entrepreneurship education could help address the country’s skills deficit and expand economic opportunities.
Both officials underscored the importance of preparing Liberians not only to compete for existing jobs but also to develop the capacity to create businesses, generate employment and contribute to the country’s economic transformation.