Africa-Press – Liberia. Divine Intervention Supports & Services Inc. over the weekend graduated 52 participants from its Entrepreneurship Training Program in Gbarnga, marking the institution’s second formal graduation ceremony since its establishment.
The ceremony followed the completion of a two-week intensive Entrepreneurship Development Training Program conducted in accordance with the International Labour Organization Start and Improve Your Business framework, widely known as ILO-SIYB.
Of the 52 graduates, 22 potential entrepreneurs successfully completed the Generate Your Business Idea module under the ILO-SIYB curriculum and received certificates qualifying them for Level Two training under the Start Your Business component.
Additionally, 30 entrepreneurs who completed all required SIYB modules were awarded full certification, signifying their readiness to launch or expand sustainable business ventures.
Delivering special remarks at the ceremony, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Divine Intervention Supports & Services Inc., Mr. Emmanuel Diabolo, said the initiative was established to empower individuals, organizations, communities, and enterprises to drive sustainable development across Liberia.
According to Mr. Diabolo, national development cannot be realized if the private sector remains stagnant and the capacities of individuals are not deliberately strengthened. He noted that Liberia currently has more than 81 accredited higher learning institutions, collectively producing no fewer than 15,000 graduates annually in disciplines such as accounting, biology, agriculture, and other professional fields.
He explained that between 2015 and 2025, the country produced more than 150,000 professionals from diverse academic backgrounds. However, he expressed concern that only about 30 percent of those graduates secure employment, often through personal networks and connections, leaving approximately 120,000 skilled individuals without jobs.
“Even those who are employed remain vulnerable to economic shocks,” Mr. Diabolo stated. He referenced the global economic disruptions associated with policies introduced during the administration of former United States President Donald Trump, noting that many professionals who depended solely on salaried employment experienced uncertainty during that period.
He emphasized the need for a national shift in mindset toward entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, strengthened through international development partnerships.
He highlighted the organization’s collaboration with the International Labour Organization, noting that a regional master trainer from Nairobi, Kenya, provided technical guidance and motivation throughout the training sessions.
Mr. Diabolo also called for stronger partnerships between training institutions and universities to ensure that graduates are equipped not merely to seek employment but to create jobs and contribute meaningfully to national development. He stressed that every institution and enterprise must be built with sustainability and growth in mind.
Serving as proxy guest speaker on behalf of Bong County Senator Prince Kermue Moye Sr., Mr. Nuwoe Kellen, Chief of Office Staff in the Senator’s office, delivered a keynote address centered on the theme, “From Certificates to Value Creation: Building Liberia’s Future One Enterprise at a Time.”
Mr. Kellen described the graduation as a transfer of responsibility from the institution to the individuals and from the classroom to the community. He told the graduates that they were not merely receiving certificates but were being entrusted with a mandate to build enterprises, solve problems, and create value where none appears to exist.
Highlighting Liberia’s youthful demographic, he noted that more than 60 percent of the country’s population is under the age of 35. He added that unemployment, underemployment, and vulnerable employment affect more than half of the working-age population, stressing that official unemployment statistics do not fully capture the depth of the challenge.
“Many of our citizens are working without earning a living wage, and countless qualified graduates remain idle,” he said.
Mr. Kellen urged the graduates to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by transitioning from certificate holders to value creators and job generators. He asserted that government alone cannot resolve the unemployment crisis, and that non-governmental organizations and foreign aid programs cannot absorb the rapidly growing youth population.
He maintained that only trained, ethical, and innovative entrepreneurs can build a resilient and self-sustaining economy at scale. He further noted that the Generate Your Business Idea and Start Your Business modules completed by the graduates are globally recognized approaches aligned with international development standards.
As part of Senator Moye’s support for the initiative, Mr. Kellen, on behalf of the Senator, presented a cash contribution of one thousand United States dollars (US$1,000.00) to the leadership of Divine Intervention Supports & Services Inc. He pledged the Senator’s continued commitment to the growth and sustainability of the program.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, several participants expressed gratitude to Mr. Diabolo and his team for what they described as a transformative opportunity. They characterized the training as an eye-opening experience that broadened their understanding of entrepreneurship, financial planning, and business sustainability.
The graduates pledged to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the program to establish and expand enterprises that will create employment opportunities within their respective communities.
The graduation ceremony brought together stakeholders, local business leaders, development partners, and community members in Gbarnga, all of whom gathered to celebrate the achievements of the newly certified entrepreneurs and to reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing local economic development in Bong County and beyond.
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