Paynesville – The Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) with support from the global non-governmental, humanitarian aid organization Mercy Corps, has launched this year’s version of the National Cadet Program.
Official program marking the launch of the 2018 National Cadet Program was held Monday, 10 September 2018 at the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.
Youth and Sports Minister, Mr. D. Zeogar Wilson, said considering the high unemployment rate among the youthful population, the government through the MYS must strive to prioritize programs that are geared toward creating empowerment and employment for youth, he spoke at the launch of the cadet program.
“We, as a government must provide means for the empowerment of young people in the country. There must be government programs that support youth employment and empowerment,” Minister Wilson stated, recommending that in order to create greater space for youth employment and empowerment, government should support and legislate programs that are aimed at creating employment possibilities for youth.
By this means, he pointed out that succeeding administrations will live up to the existing laws to support the various national youth programs.
Minister Wilson also urged the applicants of the 2018 National Cadet Program to be disciplined and committed to whatever duty they would be assigned, saying, “My warning to you is that you must do your best at wherever you would be assigned. You must be disciplined as well because this is the hallmark to success.”
Mercy Corps Country Director, Mr. Kwasi Gyeabour said support provided towards the cadet program by his organization is geared towards building the capacity of young people for a prosperous future.
He recounted that since 2013, the program has yielded tangible results, indicating that many youths who enrolled into the program have been gainfully employed at different places.
“Since we began supporting the program through support from the Embassy of Sweden, the results are very good,” he said.
He disclosed that plans are underway to expand the program to other parts of the country, noting that Nimba and Bong Counties are being earmarked.
Deputy Minister for Youth Development at the MYS, Mr. Isaac N. Doe described the National Cadet Program as one of government’s frontline initiatives instituted to combat the crisis of under empowerment and employment confronting young Liberians.
Deputy Minister Doe revealed that since its reintroduction in 2009, an estimated 526 young Liberians have benefited from the program, adding that out of such number, 236 beneficiaries representing 45 percent have led to permanent meaningful employment.
Of this number, he stated that 112 or 47% of those employed are females, while 214 or 53% are males.
For his part, the Coordinator of the National Cadet Program, Mr. Samuel K. Mappy, IV disclosed that 200 out of the 1,680 applicants would be selected after a thorough review of those applications.
