By: Julius Konton
Former Minister of Youth and Sports D. Zeogar Wilson has praised his successors, former Minister Cllr. Cole Bangalu and current Minister Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah, for successfully completing the Business Domestic Occupational Training Center (BDOTC) Hospitality Training Center, describing the achievement as a powerful demonstration that national development transcends political administrations.
Wilson, under whose leadership construction of the facility commenced, expressed heartfelt appreciation following the official dedication of the center by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung on Thursday.
“The construction started under our administration, and this demonstrates that indeed government is continuity. I sincerely thank my two successors, former Minister Cllr. Cole Bangalu and current Minister Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah, for seeing this important project through to completion, Congratulations,” Wilson emphasized.
His remarks have drawn attention to the importance of policy continuity in public infrastructure development, particularly in sectors that directly impact youth empowerment, employment, and economic growth.
The US$1.2 million Business Domestic Occupational Training Center (BDOTC) Hospitality Training Center, implemented under the STRIVE Project, represents one of Liberia’s latest investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The modern facility is designed to strengthen workforce development by preparing young Liberians for careers in the country’s growing hospitality and tourism industry, a sector widely recognized as a major contributor to employment and economic diversification across Africa.
According to international development estimates, the global tourism industry supports hundreds of millions of jobs worldwide, while Africa continues to expand investments in hospitality infrastructure and skills development to capture a larger share of international tourism revenues.
Liberia views vocational education as a strategic pathway toward reducing youth unemployment, improving workforce competitiveness, and promoting entrepreneurship.
The Hospitality Training Center is expected to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and practical workplace experience by providing students with industry-standard facilities where they can develop technical competence, professionalism, and customer-service excellence.
Officially dedicating the facility, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung urged students and trainees to maximize the opportunities provided by the center through discipline, commitment, and excellence.
He encouraged learners to cultivate a culture of professionalism and quality customer service, stressing that these qualities remain essential for success in the competitive hospitality industry.
The Vice President also challenged the institution’s management to maintain high training standards so graduates can compete effectively in both local and international labor markets while creating entrepreneurial opportunities of their own.
Koung further commended the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Education, and Liberia’s international development partners for their collaboration in transforming the vision into reality.
Speaking during the ceremony, Minister of Youth and Sports Atty. Cornelia W. Kruah described the Hospitality Training Center as a transformational investment that connects academic instruction with practical industry experience.
She said the fully equipped facility will deliver hands-on, industry-focused training in hotel operations, customer service, food production, housekeeping, front office operations, and hospitality management.
According to Minister Kruah, graduates will leave the institution with practical skills and professional competencies needed to meet the evolving demands of Liberia’s expanding hospitality and tourism sector.
“The center represents more than just a building, it is an investment in Liberia’s young people and in the future of our economy,” she emphasized, noting that practical vocational education remains essential for creating sustainable employment opportunities.
Minister Kruah also expressed profound appreciation to the European Union (EU), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), IECD, and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for their financial and technical support in bringing the project to completion.
She encouraged students to seize the opportunity by dedicating themselves to excellence, innovation, and professionalism as they prepare for careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing service industries.
The completion of the BDOTC Hospitality Training Center marks another significant milestone in Liberia’s broader strategy to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training, improve youth employability, and develop a skilled workforce capable of supporting national economic transformation.
Wilson’s acknowledgment of successive administrations, coupled with Minister Kruah’s vision for expanding practical skills training, underscores a rare bipartisan message that sustainable national development depends on continuity, collaboration, and long-term investment in Liberia’s human capital.
As the country continues to invest in vocational education, the new Hospitality Training Center is expected to become a flagship institution for preparing a new generation of skilled hospitality professionals capable of competing both within Liberia and across the West African region.
