The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Garmonyou Wilson
22 April 2008
Monrovia — Twenty students from the University of Liberia (UL) have received certificates after a three-month microfinance opportunity program that had the students working at local businesses.
The program which was designed by former Commerce Minister, King-Akerele, brought together twenty students from the UL's accounting and management departments to partake in internships at business entities around Monrovia and its environs.
Under the theme "Grooming of Liberia's Future Entrepreneurs" the twenty students were taken to businesses that were chosen by the Liberia Business Association (LIBA) after depositing eight thousand US dollars in an EcoBank account.
The money was put into the account so that EcoBank can double the amount which they did so that the students can engage in a microfinance business of their own.
The initial eight thousand US dollars that was put into the EcoBank account has now been increased to nearly US$500,000 because of the bank's satisfaction about the successful participation of the students.
The award ceremony was also a launching of phase two of the program at the University of Liberia which brought twenty more students to partake in the program.
Speaking at the ceremony, EcoBank's General Manager, Adepoje Morenike said that in the future the bank plans to impel US$1million to the program to see the success of it for more students in the country.
The EcoBank GM told the students that they can succeed in any business they set their minds on, and that they should not wait for someone to give them huge sum of money before would start any business. She further reminded them that business-undertaking is a gradual process.
Wilmot Sharrow, a participant of phase one of the young entrepreneurship program said the program helped him apply his business techniques when he spent three months at Gus Textile Center on Mechlin Street.
Another student, Janeh M. Momo said she enjoyed working at Ahaijdlim General Merchandise Store on the AirField and wished that the program would continue to help students acquire sound experience in the accounting and management field of study.
For his part, the President for LIBA, Mr. Sam Mitchel said that with the collaboration of the Commerce Ministry and EcoBank, the program is planned to reach other institutions in the country so that more students can get the experience of becoming entrepreneurs.
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