The programme, conducted in collaboration with Corporate Professional Industrial (CPI), Liberia, was part of broader efforts to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in West Africa, particularly in Liberia.

Sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the programme has produced five certified TVET instructors in Welding and Fabrication including one female and two instructors (male and a female), specialising in Plumbing and Pipework.

In his remarks at the graduation ceremony on Tuesday , the Acting Vice Chancellor of RMU, Dr  Jethro W. Brooks Jr., commended the graduates for their dedication in acquiring skills that would empower them to train the next generation of skilled professionals in their country.

“These graduates are not just acquiring skills for personal advancement but are now equipped to serve as TVET instructors, tasked with the responsibility of training the next generation of professionals upon their return home,” he said.

He explained that the programme was part of a larger EU-supported initiative aimed at enhancing TVET delivery in Liberia while encouraging the graduates to be proactive in creating a future where technical skills would be fully harnessed for national development.

Dr Brooks Jr. was also presented with a citation for spearheading the initiative and efforts towards sustainable partnerships between industry and academia.

Ing. Joe Felix Tetteh, Head of the Vocational Skills Training Center (VSTC) at RMU, described the training as a transformative experience for the participants, empowering them to lead vocational and technical change in their country.

He emphasised that such initiatives provide young people with sustainable career paths and contribute significantly to national growth. He also reaffirmed RMU’s commitment to championing the TVET agenda, while expressing appreciation to the facilitators for their dedication.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Juwle Michael Warkie expressed gratitude to RMU and CPI for the opportunity, which he said would have a lasting impact on their professional lives.

He pledged that they would pass on the valuable knowledge and skills gained to the next generation of professionals in Liberia.