Liberia’s youthful population is made up of enthusiastic and energetic young people who need sufficient supportive policies and programs in place to explore their full potential and help spur growth and economic advancement.
But as Liberia continues to grapple with the youth joblessness crisis, the structural nature of how young people access jobs, and given the potential drawback of such an unemployment crisis, the need to find concrete solutions cannot be overemphasized
Problem of youth unemployment given the staggering realities currently facing Liberian youths and the pervasive nationwide ramifications, all development partners-private and public must act with coordinated and collective action for job-oriented strategies.
As the imperative message of job creation for young people resonates across the world, ArcelorMittal Liberia, the leading private sector investment is poised to make good on its commitment to job provision once again.
The company has started recruiting Hundreds of young people and training them to work on its ore beneficiary plant which is under construction in the mining town of Yekepa, in Nimba.
Last year, ArcelorMittal Liberia asked for applications from potential young men and women in Grand Bassa, Bong, and Nimba counties with the intent to train them as “Process Operators.
When the ore processing plant is completed and dedicated, it is these young people will take up jobs in the concentrator plant as part of the company’s Phase II expansion.
In fulfillment of this pledge of recruiting about 500 youths for various technical and logistical positions, ArcelorMittal last week kickstarted the “process operator” training for the first 150 youths in Yekepa.
They were selected from more than 2,000 applicants that poured in from various communities in the three counties and underwent a series of assessments to determine their suitability for the training program during the AML Bulk Recruitment exercise carried out in areas where its mining activities are located.
According to the company, their trainees are divided into three groups with 50 taken at a time.
The first group of 50 goes through a one-month induction for specific technical information, and afterward, goes through sessions of training for months including field trips for visual and practical learning.
When that is complete, the second batch of 50 will go through the same process until all of them are trained and absorbed by the company as part of the phase two expansion project.
ArcelorMittal has committed that young people will be equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to operate and monitor machinery and equipment at processing plants and control the processing of iron ore.
This opportunity by ArcelorMittal Liberia presents a clear response to how she is living up to her commitment to youth employment in Liberia.
Not just with this current training, but also through its countless community development initiatives, ArcelorMittal continues to present a sober and forward-looking creative intervention, tapping into formidable challenges with job creation, inherent limitations, and the way forward.
The company is leading the way to other concession operating in Liberia to cultivate responsible business attitudes learn from each other and promote concerted actions to help rebuild the Liberian economy
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