WHAT: Launch of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank
WHO: Government of Liberia; President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.; African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
WHERE: Ministerial Complex, Monrovia, Liberia; Online
On July 22, 2025, the government of Liberia, in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group, will launch its first Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) in Liberia; the first of several that will be established across the continent. The launch will be preceded by an expanded cabinet meeting hosted by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
The YEIB is a brainchild of African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. This $17.8 million initiative makes Liberia the first country to host the pan-African financial institution for youth entrepreneurs.
The cabinet meeting will bring together the leadership of the Liberian government, including ministers and deputy ministers, heads of state-owned enterprises, legislators, and the country's chief justice. The banks will help establish over 150 youth-led enterprises, create jobs, and unlock more than $500 million in additional lending over the next decade. Targeting youth aged 18-35, the initiative addresses a critical youth unemployment challenge in a country where 60% of the population is under 35.
Unlike traditional banks, the YEIB model combines three innovative components: an early-stage investment fund for direct equity investments, a Technical Assistance Fund for business development services, and a Credit Guarantee Fund for risk-sharing mechanisms.
Having already approved Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks in Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Côte d'Ivoire, this launch marks the start of a continent-wide drive to boost youth entrepreneurship and access to finance, driven by the African Development Bank Group.
The YEIB is jointly financed by the African Development Fund (US$15.9M), Korea Africa Economic Cooperation (US$0.7M), and the Government of Liberia (US$1.2M in-kind).
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