Monrovia, Liberia โ August 8, 2026: The Director-General of the Civil Service Agency, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., has challenged university students to make choices that will positively and indelibly shape the future of the country.
Dr. Joekai said Liberiaโs future will not be determined solely by โthe resources beneath our soil, the forests across our land, or the waters along our coastโ but by what young people develop โbetween their ears,โ what they know, what they can do, and the choices they make.
Dr. Joekai made the remarks on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the inaugural National Inter-University Environmental Debate Championship and Career Mentorship Forum, held at Stella Maris Polytechnic University on Capitol Hill, Monrovia.
The forum was organized by the Liberia Youth Environment Initiative, a prominent youth-led organization dedicated to environmental education, leadership development, and climate action across Liberia.
In declaring the debate formally open, Dr. Joekai urged young people to remain inquisitive, pursue continuous learning, and make themselves available for volunteer opportunities, internships, and apprenticeships.
โIf you are interested in environmental governance, learn what the Environmental Protection Agency actually does. If your passion is fisheries and the blue economy, engage the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority. If you are interested in forestry and conservation, learn from the institutions and professionals working in those fields. If you are interested in public policy, understand how ministries and agencies translate ideas into programs,โ Dr. Joekai said.
The CSA Director-General advised students from the participating universities that career guidance must not begin after graduation but should start before students choose their academic programs. He emphasized that Liberia needs high schools and universities that help young people understand themselves, understand the economy, identify emerging occupations, and connect their education to the countryโs actual national manpower requirements.
Dr. Joekai thanked the Liberia Youth Environment Initiative and its Executive Director, Madam Elizabeth D. Kamara, for inviting him to deliver the special address and formally open the debate. He described the initiative as a national movement that seeks to develop young environmental leaders through learning, collaboration, innovation, and mentorship.
The one-day event brought together students from four universities: Cuttington University, Notre Dame University, African Methodist Episcopal University, and the University of Liberia.