Libpedia Launches Future Leaders Town Hall with Education Minister as Inaugural Guest

Published: August 12, 2024

Monrovia – Libpedia, a leading digital media organization, launched its Future Leaders Town Hall series yesterday, with the inaugural event featuring the Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Jallah, as the distinguished guest. The dialogue, held at iCampus in Monrovia, aimed to bridge the gap between young people and policymakers, fostering meaningful conversations on key issues affecting Liberia’s youth.

The event brought together a diverse audience, including students, teachers, activists, and entrepreneurs, who actively participated in the discussions. Ernest Duku Jallah, the Executive Director of Libpedia and host of the program, emphasized the importance of the dialogue in creating a platform where young voices can be heard by those in positions of power.

“The goal of this town hall is to bridge the divide between young people and policymakers. We want to ensure that young people are not just passive recipients of policies but active contributors to the decisions that shape their futures,” said Jallah.

During the dialogue, Minister Jallah shared her vision for the future of education in Liberia, highlighting the ministry’s plans to improve the quality and accessibility of education across the country. The minister also took the time to listen to suggestions from the young participants, who offered a range of innovative ideas to enhance the education system.

Among the suggestions made by the youth were the introduction of a National Excellence Award to promote academic achievement, the implementation of a digital program to detect and prevent class-jumping, and the establishment of a second-chance program aimed at encouraging young girls who have dropped out of school to return to their studies.

“The ideas shared today are not just suggestions; they are the voices of the future leaders of Liberia,” Minister Jallah remarked. “We must take these voices seriously and work together to build an education system that meets the needs and aspirations of all our young people.”

Jallah announced that the Future Leaders Town Hall series will continue on a bi-weekly basis, with the next session set to host the Minister of Agriculture. The discussion will focus on the national agriculture plan, followed by an engagement with the Minister of Commerce to address issues related to youth involvement in business.

“We are committed to ensuring that young people are actively engaged in shaping the policies that affect them. This platform will provide continuous opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between youth and leaders across various sectors,” Jallah added.

The Future Leaders Town Hall promises to be a significant initiative in fostering youth participation in Liberia’s policymaking process, with the potential to drive positive change and empower the next generation of leaders.