The Vice President of Liberia His Excellency Jeremiah Kpang Koung, on Wednesday 17 July, officially launched Liberia's University Innovation Pod (UniPod) with a commitment from the government to create an environment where young people will cultivate digital skills demanded on a global level.

UniPod is part of the new UNDP Africa Timbuktoo Initiative implemented in Liberia through UNDP Liberia in partnership with the University of Liberia, iCampus Liberia, and Orange Liberia.

Speaking at the Launch held on the Fendall Campus, Vice President Koung said Liberia's future hinges on its ability to harness the power of technology and innovation to drive progress, create opportunities, and empower the youth to lead the country into a brighter future.

“This day marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts towards digital empowerment and innovation in Liberia. If we will boast of a generation prepared to safeguard the future of our Nation, we must begin to train our students and youth with the technological skills of the 21st century,” VP Koung noted.

He spoke of the challenges associated with students competing for jobs in ICT without the requisite skills needed, emphasizing that the use of technology in education will put students and youth on par with the rest of the world, making education relevant to their digital lives.

“Many of the traditional jobs available today may be gone within five to ten years due to the rapid digital advancements across the world. Our students and youth must leave school with the technological skills needed in the future economy,” the Vice President continued.

He expressed concerns about the technological disparity that exists between students and youth in developed countries and others in low-income countries such as Liberia, calling for swift actions to bridge this gap.

“This is why UNIPOD Liberia gives hope that we are serious and prepared to embrace the digital age. This is truly a visionary initiative that is worth celebrating, and I call on other development partners for continuous support to our nation’s digital transformation drive”.

VP Koung praised the efforts of UNDP, the University of Liberia, and other stakeholders for the project and urged students to maximize the opportunities the UniPod facilities offer to prepare themselves for future responsibilities.

“There must be no room for excuses, our students and youth must be prepared for the challenges ahead, as technology is a major tool needed to confront these challenges,” the Vice President concluded.

Speaking earlier, UNDP Liberia Resident Representative a.i. Anthony Ohemeng-Boemah applauded the efforts of the Government of Liberia for its dedication and partnership in making this project a reality and recognized the collaboration between UNDP Liberia, the University of Liberia, Orange Liberia and iCampus Liberia.

He called for continuous commitment to delivering technical and financial resources to ensure the success of the UniPod.

"I also want to open the door to new partners, particularly the private sector realizing that each partner brings added value to this UniPod through their technical contribution and ability to mobilize additional networks and financial resources," Mr. Anthony Ohemeng-Boemah intimated.

He expressed conviction that the large, youthful, and dynamic population could be an asset for transformative growth by tapping into Liberians' innovative and entrepreneurial spirit to promote and foster innovative business solutions to address youth unemployment in the country.

Ohemeng-Boemah described the launch of the UniPod as the birth of a new revolution that will allow young Liberians to dream about and create Liberian-made enterprises and solutions that will transform their country and the world at large.

“To the young people of Liberia, I say, this is your opportunity to make the Liberian dream of shared and inclusive prosperity a reality through your ideas and innovations.  You have an opportunity to nurture your ideas and produce startups that can become meaningful enterprises that would greatly contribute to Liberia’s job creation and economic growth,” said the UNDP Resident Representative a.i.

In conclusion, Ohemeng-Boemah assured that the UniPod will help the government fulfill its pledge to train 10,000 youth with digital skills and spur job creation for the young people of Liberia. 

“We therefore call on the government and all its partners to join hands in keeping this dream alive. It complements our shared commitment toward building skills for future jobs, unlocking the sustainable development potential of Liberia, addressing skills gap, building human capital, and leveraging the power of digital innovation for productive transformation. I look forward to seeing this Liberian UniPod in action and contributing to Liberia’s economic growth, in areas such as product development, emerging fintech, food-tech, software, and data startups,”.

Remarks from the Minister of Commerce, Amin Modad, the University of Liberia Acting President Al-Hassan Conteh as well as Orange Liberia and iCampus Chief Executive Officers, Jean Marius Yao, and Luther Jeke respectively, highlighted the demonstration of a partnership and collaboration that will pave the way for a more innovative and inclusive Liberia.

The UniPod initiative aims to encourage students in universities to engage in innovation and design thinking.

The UniPod facility is made of a maker space (electronic, textiles and 3D printing, digital media production, etc.) computers, and accessories with workstations (engineering, environment, agriculture, business). 

The Launch was graced by Government officials, University of Liberia Faculty and Staff, and other guests. The Vice President and guests attending the program were led on a guided tour of the UniPod facilities.