By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
KAKATA, MARGIBI COUNTY – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has said that Liberia’s greatest wealth is its people, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) during the 97th Founder’s Day celebration of Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata.
Speaking Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the historic event, President Boakai described BWI as one of Liberia’s most enduring institutions and a symbol of resilience, nation-building, and technical excellence.
He noted that the theme of the celebration, “Honoring Our Founders, Celebrating Their Legacies toward the Centenary,” calls for reflection on the vision of the institution’s founders and renewed commitment to its mission as it approaches its 100th anniversary.
“For ninety-seven years, Booker Washington Institute has served as a center of excellence, producing generations of skilled Liberians who have contributed meaningfully to our national development,” the President said.
President Boakai said BWI’s history mirrors Liberia’s own journey of perseverance through adversity, highlighting its survival through political instability, economic challenges, global crises, public health emergencies, and the civil conflict.
He observed that while many institutions collapsed during those difficult periods, BWI endured because it represented more than infrastructure; it represented a national ideal centered on education and human development.
“Our greatest wealth has never been buried beneath our soil alone. Our greatest wealth walks our streets, tills our farms, studies in our classrooms, and dreams of a better tomorrow. That wealth is our people,” he stated.
The President reflected on the devastating impact of Liberia’s civil war, including loss of lives, destruction of schools, displacement of communities, and interruption of education. He, however, praised the resilience of Liberians who continued to prioritize education despite hardship.
He said this determination laid the foundation for national recovery and positioned institutions such as BWI as key drivers of post-conflict reconstruction through skills development.
President Boakai also praised the long-standing partnership between Booker Washington Institute and Prairie View A&M University, describing it as a model of international educational cooperation that has strengthened agricultural sciences, engineering, industrial arts, teacher training, and community development.
He noted that the partnership has expanded into modern fields such as digital learning, climate-smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies.
“The real question now is whether Liberia will prepare its young people to lead in this new world or merely observe it from the sidelines,” he cautioned.
Under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the President reaffirmed that his administration is prioritizing TVET to link education directly to employment, entrepreneurship, and national economic transformation.
“Our objective is not merely to educate young people. Our objective is to empower them,” he said, calling for an education system that produces skilled, disciplined, and competent graduates across all counties.
Addressing students directly, President Boakai urged them to embrace excellence, integrity, discipline, and hard work, describing them as the custodians of Liberia’s future.
He also commended the administration, faculty, staff, alumni, and Board of BWI for preserving the legacy of the institution’s founders.
Reaffirming government support, the President said strengthening TVET institutions remains central to Liberia’s development agenda and workforce preparation.
He concluded by congratulating BWI on its 97th Founder’s Day celebration and urged national unity in the pursuit of development.
“Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and together Build Liberia,” he said.
President Boakai then extended congratulations to the entire BWI community, describing the institution as a pillar of Liberia’s educational and technical advancement.
