The Business Opportunities and Support Services Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) has launched a ‘Business Plan Competition’ for students of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI).

The entrepreneurship challenge (Business Plan Competition) is designed for graduating senior students and recent graduates of the BWI to explore supply chain gaps and corporate social investment (CSI) window of companies.

BWI currently partners with as well as identify basic problems in the communities that students can address through innovative ventures.

UNDP Assistant Country Director/Team Leader, Economic Transformation Pillar (SET) Dorsla Farcarthy said UNDP is a reliable partner of the Government that remains ready to continuously support programmes and policies which seek to help improve and boost the country’s developmental drive through various projects that would make positive impact in the lives.

 “You have a glorious opportunity to learn how to be yourselves. We want you to become your own bosses,” Mr. Farcarthy told the students.   

He said the BOSS project is supported by donors and is aligned with the Government’s Pro-poor Agenda which is aimed at helping to lift some Liberians from a level of poverty through entrepreneur and innovative programs.

“We want to see how we can bring you (students) into the picture to see how we can nurture your hidden talents- everybody can’t go looking for job, it’s time that you create some. We want to nurture you in creating your own jobs,” Farcarthy added.   

‘BOSS Project,’is an initiative of the UNDP in collaboration with the Ministries of Commerce & Industry (MOCI) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

It seeks to promote and enhance decentralization by providing start up business support to micro and small and medium businesses at the County level.

The project focuses on women, youths and other low income business people working in small agricultural production and other impactful ventures.

Also in remarks, Assistant Commerce Minister for Small Business administration, Debra Nebo thanked UNDP for the continued support to the Ministry of Commerce and the Government of Liberia.  

She told the students to be committed to whatever business or job they may find themselves doing. “Remain focus and know yourself. Know what you want and where you want to go,” Asst. Minister Debra said.

For his part, BWI Principal Harris Tarnue also lauded UNDP for the partnership with BWI and encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunity being afforded them to become their own bosses.

“This is a glorious opportunity, take advantage and apply your utmost best and make BWI, yourselves and your families proud,” Mr. Tarnue said.

Other speakers, including Assistant Youth and Sports Minister for TVET, Millias Sheriff, Joseph Kamara of the Renaissance Architecture and Construction Engineering (RACE) Inc. and other guests motivated the students in becoming their own bosses.

The BWI is the first public and post-secondary school in Liberia, establish in 1929 as the country’s first agricultural and vocational school.

The school runs a full technical and vocational education and training program (TVET) where over 200 young students are pursuing technical and vocational skills to fit into the Country’s labor market.

Prior to completing their studies, students are sent on internship to selected companies to acquire practical skills and job experiences in their areas of specialization.

The three-month initiative with the BWI is a start-up sustainable entrepreneurship development program that trains, mentors and coach students pursuing studies in business development on how to develop a business plan, pitch and implement a business idea into a full start-up and scalable business.