Divine Intervention Graduates, Certifies 43 Entrepreneurs in Gbarnga

Published: September 21, 2026

GBARNGA, Bong County – Forty-three new entrepreneurs in Bong County are ready to start businesses after graduating Saturday from the Divine Intervention Supports & Services Inc. Entrepreneurship Training Program, and they leave with a pledge of L$500,000 from Sen. Johnny K. Kpehe to help them get started.

The graduates were honored at the institution’s third graduation ceremony, held in Gbarnga after weeks of intensive training built on the International Labour Organization’s Start and Improve Your Business framework.

Twenty-three participants completed all required modules of the program and received full certification. The other 20 completed the “Generate Your Business Idea” module and were certified at Level Two under the Start Your Business component.

Kpehe said the money is meant to strengthen the institution’s work and help members of the graduating class establish businesses and become economically productive.

“I promised 500,000 to help as loans for the graduates, and I will also underwrite the cost of those who just transition to the next level of the training,” Kpehe said.

He described the money for the graduates as a nonrefundable loan.

Emmanuel Diabolo, founder and chief executive officer of Divine Intervention Supports & Services Inc., said the program was created to empower individuals, organizations, communities and enterprises to contribute to sustainable development across Liberia. He said national development will remain difficult to achieve while the private sector stagnates and individual capacities are not strengthened.

“This program enables citizens to become independent without relying on government jobs and financial aid,” Diabolo said.

Nee-A Lah Varpilah, director general of the Liberia Institute of Public Administration, challenged the graduates in keynote remarks delivered by proxy to look beyond their certificates and create value and jobs in their communities.

“Entrepreneurship creates jobs, so when you leave from here, start to actualize what you learned,” Varpilah said.

Varpilah also called for continued support for the graduates, urging Divine Intervention, government officials and nongovernmental organizations not to leave them to fend for themselves but to provide guidance and other help as they launch their businesses.