Youth Advisory Council Unveils Manifesto, Calls for AI, TVET and Startup Support

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to youth empowerment after receiving an eight-point Youth Manifesto from the President’s Youth Advisory Council during the 2026 Presidential Town Hall Meeting in Buchanan.

The President said his administration will continue creating opportunities for young people through education, entrepreneurship, technology, skills training and job creation. He also pledged support for digital transformation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), while encouraging young Liberians to play an active role in national development.

Presenting the manifesto, President’s Youth Advisory Council Chairman Mendela Saah Gbollie said the document reflects the priorities of young people across Liberia and called on the government to turn the proposals into action.

The manifesto urges the government to:

• Build Liberia’s first National Youth Complex to serve as a home for youth organizations.
• Make Artificial Intelligence (AI) a national priority through digital education and innovation.
• Increase the Ministry of Youth and Sports budget.
• Build and modernize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers in all 15 counties.
• Establish more schools and training centers for young people living with disabilities.
• Support the creative industry so young people can earn sustainable incomes from their talents.
• Reform the Youth Entrepreneurship Bank by easing loan requirements and focusing more on youth-led businesses.
• Introduce tax incentives for youth-owned startups to help them grow.

Your Excellency, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Cabinet Ministers, officials of government, and fellow young Liberians:

We stand before you today not merely as spectators of history, but as the active drivers of Liberia’s future. On behalf of the President’s Youth Advisory Council and the hundred  of young people gathered here at the 2026 Buchanan Town Hall Meeting, we officially present to you the Youth Manifesto.

Young people represent the largest demographic in our nation. We must shift from being passive end-users of public policy to becoming the active architects of the decisions that shape our lives. This manifesto outlines our collective priorities for sustainable development, economic empowerment, and urgent institutional support.

To unlock the full potential of Liberia's youth, we respectfully present eight critical, actionable priorities for your immediate executive action:

1. Infrastructure: The Youth Complex of Liberia (The National Youth Hub)

First, we call for the historic construction of the Youth Complex of Liberia. Throughout our history, there has been no such dedicated institution; let it be part of your enduring legacy to finally give the young people of this country a place to call home. We request a centralized, unified national youth hub to host all statutory youth organizations. This landmark facility must include integrated public parks to foster community engagement and dedicated sports pitches to scout and develop local athletic talent.

2. Technology & Innovation: National Prioritization of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Second, building directly on our recommendations from the UN ECOSOC conference, we recommend that the government prioritize Artificial Intelligence. We must invest in AI learning frameworks, digital labs, and tech infrastructure. If we do not act now, Liberia risks lagging behind in the global digital economy. AI is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for our survival and growth.

3. Institutional Funding: Budgetary Expansion for Ministy of  Youth & Sports

Third, we urge your administration to structurally increase the national budget allocation for the Ministry of Youth and Sports. This fiscal growth will signal a concrete government commitment to our demographic. It will ensure long-term, vibrant programs rather than temporary, reactive initiatives.

4. TVET: Prioritizing Vocational Education across the Country

Fourth, we highly recommend that the national government prioritize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). We call for the strategic construction of modern vocational centers across all fifteen counties of Liberia. Alongside building these new centers, the government must aggressively upgrade, re-equip, and modernize our existing TVET facilities. TVET is a direct gateway to sustainable employment opportunities and self-reliance for our young population.

5. Inclusive Education: Specialized Schools for People with Disabilities

Fifth, we demand that your administration prioritize inclusive education by establishing specialized schools and training centers tailored for young people living with disabilities. No young Liberian should be left behind. This initiative will ensure that youth with special needs receive equal access to quality education, assistive learning technologies, and skills training to live independent and dignified lives.

6. Economic Policy: Monetization of Craft & Creativity

Sixth, we request the full implementation of a national monetization policy for creative, artisanal, and tech-driven industries. Commercializing youth talent will enable young creatives to earn sustainably from their crafts. This creates independent livelihoods and actively diverts pressure from formal public sector jobs.

7. Financial Inclusion: Reform of the Youth Entrepreneurs Bank

Seventh, we demand a sweeping reform of the Youth Entrepreneurs Bank to eliminate over-stringent collateral and application requirements that discourage young dreamers. We mandate that 75% of the bank's operational and administrative roles be filled by qualified young professionals, with loan and grant portfolios refocused strictly on youth-led enterprises.

8. Fiscal Relief: Tax Incentives for Startups

Eighth, we call on the government, in collaboration with international partners, to draft protective policies that introduce strategic tax breaks and temporary waivers for local, youth-led businesses. This fiscal relief is vital to protect fragile, early-stage enterprises from predatory or heavy taxation that stifles growth.

In response, President Boakai said his administration remains committed to expanding opportunities for young Liberians. He highlighted ongoing efforts to improve education, create jobs, fight drug abuse, attract investment and extend digital development beyond Monrovia.

The President also assured young people that his government will continue working with them to create an environment where they can build successful careers and contribute to Liberia’s development.