By George K. Momo
MONROVIA, Oct. 24 (LINA) – The Ministry of Youth and Sports, through its county office in Bomi, has commenced a training program for 95 small business grant beneficiaries as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to empower young entrepreneurs, strengthen small-scale businesses, and promote economic inclusion across Liberia.
The training exercise began on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the Ministry’s sub-office in Tubmanburg City, Bomi County. It brought together 95 beneficiaries who were previously recruited and vetted from various districts across the county to participate in the Small-Scale Business Grant Program.
Under the initiative, each beneficiary is expected to receive Thirty Thousand Liberian Dollars (L$30,000) upon completion of the training.
The funds are intended to help participants establish, sustain, or expand their small businesses and improve their ability to generate income.
The program targets young women, men, and persons living with disabilities, reflecting the Ministry’s commitment to gender equity, accessibility, and inclusive youth empowerment.
By extending support to people from different backgrounds, the initiative seeks to provide vulnerable young people and small-scale business operators with opportunities to improve their livelihoods and participate more actively in the local economy.
Mr. Honfreyy Navaye, Bomi County Youth Coordinator, speaking during the opening of the training said the exercise was designed to equip beneficiaries with practical knowledge and essential skills needed to manage their businesses effectively.
According to Navaye, the training covers key areas, including business management, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business sustainability.
He explained that the sessions would help beneficiaries understand how to manage their finances, make informed business decisions, plan for growth, and use the grant money for its intended purpose.
Navaye stressed that providing financial assistance alone would not be sufficient to ensure the success of the beneficiaries, adding that equipping participants with the knowledge to manage their businesses responsibly was an important part of the Ministry’s strategy to promote sustainable economic activities.
“After this intensive training, each beneficiary will receive the L$30,000 grant via mobile money directly to their accounts,” he disclosed.
He said the direct mobile money disbursement arrangement was intended to facilitate the transfer of funds to beneficiaries following the completion of the training.
The county youth coordinator also emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability throughout the grant distribution process and urged participants to take the training seriously and apply the lessons learned to improve their businesses.
Navaye encouraged the beneficiaries to remain focused on the objectives of the program, noting that the success of the initiative would depend partly on their willingness to put the knowledge and financial support to productive use.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries attending the opening session expressed appreciation to the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for selecting them to benefit from the small business support initiative.
Some participants specifically praised the Minister of Youth and Sports, whom they affectionately referred to as ‘Youth Mother’ for what they described as an effort to address the challenges confronting young business owners and petty traders in Bomi County.
They said the financial assistance would provide an opportunity to strengthen their existing businesses, increase their working capital, and improve their capacity to meet the demands of their customers.
For small-scale business operators, access to additional capital can help support the purchase of goods, replenish stock, and maintain daily business activities.
Beneficiaries expressed hope that the anticipated L$30,000 grants would help them overcome some of the financial constraints affecting their operations.
Some participants also indicated that expanding their businesses could improve their ability to support their families and contribute to economic activities within their communities.
The inclusion of persons living with disabilities in the program was also consistent with the initiative’s broader objective of ensuring that youth empowerment opportunities reach groups that may face additional barriers to economic participation.
The Small-Scale Business Grant Program forms part of the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ broader youth empowerment and economic inclusion strategy, which targets vulnerable young people and small business owners across Liberia’s 15 counties.
Through the program, the Ministry seeks to provide financial assistance and capacity-building opportunities to individuals engaged in small-scale commercial activities, with the aim of strengthening entrepreneurship and encouraging self-reliance.
The training component is intended to prepare beneficiaries to manage the grants responsibly and build businesses capable of generating income over time.