Published: May 13, 2026
GBARNGA, BONG COUNTY — The management of the Liberia Opportunities Industrialization Center (LOIC) in Bong County is expected to graduate 223 students from various vocational and technical training departments during a major graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026, at the institution’s campus.
The graduation ceremony is expected to include over 223 students, comprising 81 female students across various vocational and technical departments, including agriculture, electricity, general construction, and computer studies.
The graduation will bring together county authorities, partners, parents, community members, students, and invited guests to celebrate the achievements of young people who have successfully completed intensive technical and vocational training programs aimed at empowering them with practical skills for self-reliance and national development.
Speaking during an interview ahead of the graduation, LOIC Manager Rachel M. Paye expressed gratitude to the Bong County leadership, partners, and supporters for standing with the institution and helping hundreds of young people gain access to vocational education.
LOIC Gbarnga Manager Rachel M. Paye addressing the press in Gbarnga
According to Madam Paye, the upcoming graduation is not only a celebration for the students but also a demonstration of the impact of technical and vocational education in transforming lives and reducing unemployment among young people.
“We want to say thank you to the county leadership, our hardworking Superintendent Madam Loleyah Hawa Norris, the senators, representatives, and the County Council leadership for supporting our young people,” Madam Paye stated.
She disclosed that Bong County authorities allocated approximately US$21,000 to support students at the institution, a contribution she described as historic and impactful.
“Since I started working with LOIC in 2013, this is the first time county leadership came together and intentionally supported vocational students. It was a brilliant idea because there is no nation that can be built without technical skills,” she added.
Madam Paye explained that the county’s support enabled the institution to enroll and train about 257 students under scholarship assistance, especially at a time when many young people lacked the financial means to pursue vocational education.
The LOIC manager further noted that the county’s support also created opportunities for partnerships with organizations including the Institute of European Cooperation and Development (IECD) and Eco Energy, which supported agriculture and tailoring programs respectively.
She explained that through the partnership with IECD, students in the agriculture department received practical training materials, tools, and hands-on experience in vegetable production and agroecology.
According to her, the supports also enabled the institution to clear farmland and establish demonstration sites for practical agricultural activities.
“We spent close to one hundred thousand Liberian dollars clearing the farmland so our partners could see our seriousness and commitment to agriculture,” she explained.
Madam Paye said agriculture remains one of the institution’s strongest departments and has now become a required course at the institution due to its importance to food production and sustainability.
“We eat every day, so we should also learn how to grow what we eat. Agriculture is important for Liberia, and our young people need to take it seriously,” she emphasized.
She revealed that the institution is now focusing on smart agriculture and agroecological vegetable production, with future plans to expand into animal science, including piggery and livestock production.
The LOIC manager also disclosed that the institution has reduced its agriculture training duration to three months under a revised curriculum provided by IECD, allowing the school to conduct several training cycles within a year.
Meanwhile, some of the graduating students expressed appreciation to the institution, partners, and sponsors for giving them opportunities to acquire vocational skills.
One of the tailoring students, Rachel T.S Nyumah, from LPMC road in Gbarnga said she joined the tailoring department to become self-reliant and support her family financially.
According to her, the training has already equipped her with practical sewing skills within three months.
“I want to thank the people helping us. We need more support and more machines so we can continue learning and also teach others,” she said.
She encouraged women and young people not to depend entirely on others but to learn practical skills that can help improve their lives and support their families.
Another student, Marian Flomo from the agriculture department, said the program greatly improved her knowledge in vegetable farming, planting methods, and soil preparation.
Prospective graduates Marian Flomo and Daniel Paye speaking to the media ahead of the graduation ceremony
She explained that before joining the training, she had limited agricultural knowledge, but now feels confident in growing vegetables independently.
“I learned how to prepare the soil, maintain crops, and understand planting distances. Now I can grow vegetables on my own,” she explained.
Flomo appealed to organizations, government officials, and individuals to continue supporting young people with farming tools, seeds, and materials after graduation to help them sustain themselves.
Also speaking, Daniel Paye, one of the prospective graduates of the agriculture program sponsored by IECD described the training as transformative, noting that it exposed him to agriculture, climate-smart farming, solar panel installation, and construction-related skills.
He encouraged Liberian youths not to rely solely on white-collar employment opportunities.
“Everyone cannot work in offices. Some of us need to learn skills that can help us survive and contribute to national development,” he stated.
Paye also appealed to the government and county authorities to continue investing in vocational institutions and supporting underprivileged students.
The graduation ceremony is expected to include students from several departments including agriculture, electricity, general construction, computer studies, and other vocational programs.
Madam Rachel Paye said activities for the graduation will begin at 8:00 a.m., while graduating students are expected to arrive earlier for preparation.
She disclosed that county officials, including Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris and other leaders, have been officially invited to attend the ceremony and witness the results of their investment in young people.
“We want them to come and see the results of the support they provided. Their contribution is making a real impact in the lives of young people,” she said.
The LOIC manager also thanked media institutions for continuously supporting and highlighting the activities of the institution over the years.
As preparations intensify for Friday’s graduation, students, staff, and management remain optimistic that the event will further inspire more young people across Bong County and Liberia to embrace vocational and technical education as a pathway to empowerment and national development.
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