MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Youth and Sports Minister, Atty. Cornelia Kruah says the Liberian Government will continue to provide meaningful pathways for youth empowerment and employment through the National Service program.

Minister Kruah said,” The government is using the 2026 Cadet program as a pilot project to ensure that young people are provided job and empowerment opportunities”.

Speaking over the weekend at the graduation of the first batch of the 2026 Cadets, Minister Kruah said,” The Ministry will work with partners and other entities to ensure that youth graduating from the program are employed by their assigned entities”.

She said it is heartbreaking to see the young people go through the program and are not employed.

At the same time, Minister Kruah has announced the inclusion of TVET in the National Cadet Program.

Minister Kruah said,” Young people who are not able to attend universities, but have obtained certificates in the TVET Sector, will be allowed to get a job.”

At the same time, the Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau (AITB) Director General, Abraham Billy, has charged young people benefiting from the program to see themselves as leaders who will drive Liberia to its expectations.

Billy urged the young people to use training to operate not only within a system, but to support the improvement of systems and the nation.

Serving as guest speaker at the program, the AITB Director General said,” Innovation combined with the right mindset will lead them to address the nation”.

The National Cadet Program cadet initiative, funded by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, is being implemented by the Youth and Sports Ministry, with about 245 young people from across eight counties benefiting.