Liberia has inaugurated a new National Hospitality Training Center in Monrovia as the country strengthens efforts to equip young people with practical skills and expand employment opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The facility, located at the Business and Domestic Occupational Training Center (BDOTC), was inaugurated by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, who described the center as a strategic investment in Liberia’s human capital and an important step toward expanding opportunities through technical and vocational education and training.
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The new center will provide hands-on training in hospitality management, tourism services, food preparation, accommodation management and other industry-related disciplines. The programmes are designed to give students practical competencies that match the needs of employers and the growing tourism and hospitality industry.
Speaking at the inauguration, Vice President Koung emphasized that investment in skills development is essential to job creation, economic growth and Liberia’s wider national transformation agenda. He said the modern training facility provides young people with greater opportunities to acquire practical skills and build careers.
Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia W. Kruah highlighted the center’s potential to bridge the gap between education and employment by providing market-oriented training directly connected to industry requirements. The facility is expected to serve as a model for future technical and vocational education initiatives across Liberia.
Education Minister Jarso Maley Jallah said the project demonstrates the value of cooperation between the Liberian government and development partners in strengthening youth empowerment. She emphasized that technical and vocational education can serve as a pathway to innovation, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.
The government also sees tourism as an important area of future economic growth. Investments in hospitality infrastructure and workforce development could help Liberia take greater advantage of its tourism potential while creating employment opportunities across accommodation, food services, tourism and related industries.
The center was constructed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with funding from the European Union under the Youth Rising Project. Equipment and additional technical support were provided by the International Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD) through the STRIVE Project, funded by the Agence Française de Développement.
UNIDO official Virpi Stucki said the project represents more than the construction of a training facility, describing it as an investment in Liberia’s young people and the country’s future workforce. She also recognized the contribution of the European Union, AFD, IECD and the Government of Liberia in bringing the center into operation.
The National Hospitality Training Center forms part of broader efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education in Liberia, improve learning environments and create pathways into decent employment.
With the hospitality and tourism sectors offering opportunities for young people across a wide range of professions, the new center is expected to contribute to the development of a skilled workforce and support Liberia’s ambitions for inclusive economic growth.