By: Julius Konton
In a bold move aimed at addressing two of Liberia’s most pressing social challenges, youth unemployment and substance abuse, the President of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), Ernest Duku Jallah, has announced the launch of the country’s first-ever National Youth Farm under the organization’s flagship “Drugs to Jobs Initiative.”
The announcement was made during an official visit to a parcel of land in Bentol City, Montserrado County, which was previously donated to the Federation during the administration of former FLY President Mohammed Nasser for the construction of a future national headquarters.
Leading a delegation of senior officials and youth leaders, President Jallah inspected the property and outlined an ambitious vision that extends far beyond the development of an administrative complex.
“This land will certainly serve as the future headquarters of the Federation of Liberian Youth, but we believe it can also serve a much greater national purpose,” Jallah declared.
“In August, we will officially launch the first National Youth Farm on this site under the Drugs to Jobs Initiative. This will be the first of many National Youth Farms that we intend to establish across Liberia”, President Jallah explained.
Addressing Liberia’s Growing Youth Crisis
Liberia has one of the youngest populations in Africa, with more than 60 percent of its citizens under the age of 35. While this demographic presents significant opportunities for economic growth and innovation, it also poses substantial challenges as thousands of young people struggle to access meaningful employment opportunities.
According to international development reports, youth unemployment and underemployment remain among the country’s most persistent socioeconomic concerns. In recent years, government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners have also raised alarms over increasing substance abuse among young people, particularly the widespread use of illicit drugs in urban communities.
The Federation of Liberian Youth believes that sustainable employment and skills development can play a critical role in reducing youth vulnerability and preventing involvement in drugs and crime.
From the Streets to Sustainable Livelihoods
As part of the initiative, President Jallah announced plans to recruit vulnerable youth, including car loaders and other disadvantaged young people currently struggling to survive on the streets, and provide them with practical agricultural training and employment opportunities.
“Our goal is to take car loaders and vulnerable youth off the streets and into productive employment through the National Youth Farm,” he explained.
“We will train them, employ them, and provide a genuine pathway toward economic independence through agriculture, livestock production, poultry farming, and egg production”, he added.
The project is expected to combine vocational training with income-generating activities, enabling participants to acquire marketable skills while contributing to Liberia’s food production sector.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Liberia’s economy, employing a significant portion of the population and contributing substantially to national livelihoods.
Experts have long argued that greater investment in youth-driven agriculture could help reduce unemployment while strengthening food security and rural development.
Replacing Hopelessness with Opportunity
President Jallah emphasized that the initiative seeks to restore hope among young Liberians who often face limited opportunities and social exclusion.
“We want to replace hopelessness with opportunity,” he stated. “We want vulnerable young people to believe in their future again and to understand that they can become productive contributors to society.”
The FLY leader described the National Youth Farm as the Federation’s practical response to challenges that have long been discussed but insufficiently addressed.
“For too long, we have talked about the drug problem. Now it is time to build the solution,” Jallah stressed. “The National Youth Farms represent our commitment to transforming lives through work, skills, and empowerment.”
A Vision for National Expansion
The Bentol City project is expected to serve as a pilot model for future agricultural empowerment centers across Liberia’s fifteen counties.
If successful, the initiative could create hundreds of jobs for young people while serving as a community-based intervention against drug abuse and social vulnerability.
Youth advocates and development observers have welcomed the proposal, noting that agriculture remains one of the sectors with the greatest potential for job creation in Liberia.
Similar youth farming programs across Africa have demonstrated success in generating employment, improving food production, and reducing poverty among young populations.
As Liberia continues its search for sustainable solutions to youth unemployment and the growing drug crisis, the Federation of Liberian Youth’s National Youth Farm Initiative may emerge as a significant grassroots effort to transform challenges into opportunities.
For many vulnerable young Liberians, the project offers more than employment, it offers a renewed sense of purpose, dignity, and hope for a better future.
