By Stephanie M. Duncan
MONROVIA – KAKATA, Margibi County – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education across Liberia, describing it as a cornerstone of the country’s economic transformation under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Delivering the keynote address at the 97th Founder’s Day celebration of Booker Washington Institute (BWI) on Saturday, June 27, President Boakai praised the institution’s enduring legacy in producing skilled professionals and pledged continued government support for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Speaking under the theme, “Honoring Our Founders, Celebrating Their Legacies toward the Centenary,” the President described BWI as one of Liberia’s most distinguished educational institutions and a symbol of resilience that has remained steadfast through decades of political, economic and social challenges.
“For ninety-seven years, Booker Washington Institute has served as a center of excellence, producing generations of skilled Liberians who have contributed meaningfully to our national development,” Boakai said.
The Liberian leader noted that BWI’s history mirrors that of the nation itself, highlighting its ability to survive economic downturns, public health emergencies, and the country’s civil conflicts while continuing to educate and empower young Liberians.
He said the institution endured because it represented more than physical infrastructure.
“It represented the conviction that Liberia’s greatest wealth has never been buried beneath our soil alone. Our greatest wealth walks our streets, tills our farms, studies in our classrooms, and dreams of a better tomorrow. That wealth is our people,” the President declared.
Reflecting on Liberia’s post-war recovery, President Boakai said the country required not only infrastructure reconstruction but also skilled professionals capable of rebuilding the nation.
“When peace returned, Liberia needed roads to be rebuilt. We especially needed skilled Liberians capable of rebuilding Liberia with Liberian hands. It is to that call that Booker Washington Institute answered,” he said.
The President commended BWI for producing thousands of graduates who have contributed to national development over the decades.
He also praised the institution’s longstanding partnership with Prairie View A&M University, describing it as a model of international educational cooperation that has strengthened agriculture, engineering, industrial arts, teacher education, electronics and community development.
According to Boakai, the collaboration has recently expanded into digital learning, climate-smart agriculture, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies that are shaping the future workforce.
“The real question now is whether Liberia will prepare its young people to lead in this new world or merely observe it from the sidelines,” he said, adding that the future remains within the country’s reach.
The President emphasized that under the ARREST Agenda, education must be directly linked to employment, entrepreneurship and economic transformation.
“Our objective is not merely to educate young people. Our objective is to empower them,” he stated.
Addressing students directly, Boakai encouraged them to pursue excellence, discipline, integrity and hard work, reminding them that they will shape the next century of Booker Washington Institute.
“You are not simply students enrolled in a respected institution,” he said. “As we journey toward the mid-21st Century, let us resolve that the next century of Booker Washington Institute will be even greater than the first.”
The President reaffirmed that his administration will continue prioritizing TVET as a key driver of inclusive development, ensuring young Liberians across every county have access to quality technical education and skills training.
He also paid tribute to the institution’s founders, administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and students for preserving BWI’s legacy over nearly a century.
Concluding his remarks, President Boakai congratulated the institution on reaching its 97th anniversary and urged Liberians to remain united in advancing national development.
“Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and together Build Liberia,” he said before declaring, “Bravo!” to the Booker Washington Institute community.
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