Liberia Needs More Than Diplomas: Sando Calls for Education That Creates Businesses, Jobs and Community Solutions

UPPER CALDWELL, Montserrado County, October 17, 2026: The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Investment Bank Management Company (YEIB-MANCO), Joseph Fatorma Sando, has called for a stronger connection between education, entrepreneurship and national service, urging Liberians to put their knowledge to work in ways that improve lives and support the country’s development.

Sando said the purpose of education extends beyond acquiring certificates. Its value, he argued, must also be seen in the businesses people build, the problems they solve, the standards they uphold and the services they provide to their communities.

His remarks placed a broader national responsibility on educated Liberians: to translate academic achievement into practical contributions to the country.

Speaking on the theme “Beyond the Diploma,” Sando encouraged young people to embrace entrepreneurship, develop useful skills and approach community challenges as opportunities to contribute.

He delivered the address on Saturday while serving as guest speaker at the graduation and closing ceremony of St. James Foundation Elementary, Junior and Senior High School in Peace Community, Upper Caldwell. More than 50 high school graduates participated in the ceremony.

Although delivered at a graduation, the address raised questions that reach beyond the classroom: how knowledge is used, what qualifications contribute to society and whether individual advancement is accompanied by a commitment to public service.

Sando linked the effective use of education to Liberia’s development ambitions, stressing the importance of a generation equipped with skills, guided by integrity and willing to take responsibility.

He urged young Liberians to see entrepreneurship as a practical avenue for applying their education and creating opportunities. That requires recognizing needs, thinking critically and developing responses that are useful to others.

His message also emphasized that professional success and national development depend on the quality of work people deliver.

“Do not just do things, learn to do them very well. Excellence should be your signature,” he said.

Sando encouraged those entering business, agriculture, teaching, medicine and other professions to develop competence and take pride in doing their work properly.

He warned against mediocrity, saying a competitive and changing world demands continuous improvement. For him, completing a course of study should begin a lifelong commitment to learning rather than bring it to an end.

Reading, acquiring new skills and remaining open to knowledge, he said, are necessary for people who want to remain useful in their professions and communities.

That responsibility continues beyond school. Sando urged the graduating class to carry the discipline of learning into employment, further studies and enterprise.

Integrity was another central concern in his address.

The YEIB-MANCO chief warned that academic qualifications lose their value when they are unsupported by honesty and responsible conduct. He said a person’s reputation can create opportunities that a diploma alone cannot secure.

He urged young people to guard their integrity even when doing so becomes inconvenient, difficult or unpopular.

In situations where shortcuts and compromise may appear attractive, Sando encouraged them to remain trustworthy and consider the lasting consequences of their decisions.

His argument connected education with accountability: knowledge and talent must be accompanied by conduct that earns the confidence of others.

Sando also called for greater initiative in addressing community problems.

He said Liberia needs people who can move from identifying challenges to developing practical solutions. Education, he maintained, should strengthen a person’s ability to think critically, innovate and contribute.

He challenged the graduates to look closely at the needs around them and consider how their abilities could be put to use.

The appeal gave entrepreneurship a community purpose. Alongside personal advancement, Sando encouraged the young people to consider how their work could respond to existing needs and improve conditions for others.

He said every community has challenges that require attention, and educated citizens should be prepared to play a part in addressing them.

The address also acknowledged the setbacks that can interrupt academic, professional and business ambitions.

Sando cautioned that completing school does not guarantee an easy path. Rejection, disappointment and failure, he said, are experiences people must prepare to confront.

He encouraged the graduates to develop mental toughness and spiritual resilience, learn from difficult experiences and continue working toward their goals.

Persistence, he stressed, requires the willingness to rise after failure and remain disciplined when progress becomes difficult.

That message was tied to his wider call for responsibility. Ambition must be supported by sustained effort, and challenges should not become a reason to abandon useful work.

On community service, Sando urged young Liberians to maintain a connection with the places that helped shape them.

He encouraged volunteering, mentoring younger children and participating in community development, saying education should improve more than the circumstances of the individual who receives it.

For the graduates of St. James Foundation, that meant remaining concerned about Peace Community, Upper Caldwell and Liberia as they pursue further opportunities.

Sando said the country’s future depends on citizens who are prepared to use their abilities in service to others. He encouraged patriotism expressed through ethical conduct, productive work and a willingness to contribute.

The school administration also recognized Sando during the ceremony, gowning him in appreciation of his support for the institution and its students.

The principal and senior faculty members performed the ceremony, which the administration said honored his contributions to the school and the wider community.

School authorities cited his financial assistance and moral, spiritual and academic support. They described him as a consistent partner whose encouragement and involvement have helped the institution in educating young Liberians.

The administration also acknowledged his support for less privileged children in Peace Community, describing him as a father figure and a friend of the school.

Responding, Sando thanked the administration, faculty and students for the honor. He described the recognition as humbling and motivating and pledged to continue supporting education and youth empowerment in Liberia.

Parents, faculty members, community leaders and other guests attended the graduation and closing ceremony. The program concluded with the presentation of certificates and awards for academic achievement and good conduct, followed by a vote of thanks from the valedictorian.