Liberia needs 6,000 teachers from Nigeria - George Weah

Liberian President, George Weah, on Monday said political change was meaningless without development, prosperity and growth.


He also said Liberia would need at least 6,000 teachers from Nigeria

Weah said this while addressing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he was in Nigeria on a mission of gratitude and respect for the roles that Buhari and Nigerians had played in maintaining peace and stability in the West African sub-region and particularly in Liberia.

He said although Nigeria’s economy was the largest in Africa with the most powerful Army in the sub-region, “the country has never used its wealth and military prowess to expand its territory, threaten its neighbours, or destabilise any sovereign nation in the region.”

He said Liberia needed Nigeria’s support to jump-start its economy.

Weah said, “The prices of our two basic export commodities, rubber and iron ore, continue to fall on the world diminished market. Our foreign exchange earnings from the export of these and other commodities are used mainly on the importation of food and other commodities, causing massive trade deficits.

“Youth unemployment is at an all-time high, and prices of basic commodities continue to increase.

“Our people have voted for change and for hope. And change is finally here. But mere political change is meaningless without development, prosperity and growth.

“We need Nigeria’s help to jump-start our economy. You played a major role in bringing peace to Liberia, you reformed our Army and today it is performing its duties to the highest professional standards.

“As we speak, they are serving in a peace-keeping mission in Mali. You have also built and expanded the capacities of Liberians in so many ways.”

Weah said his administration’s Pro-Poor Development Agenda was intended to tackle the many economic and social problems that his government inherited.

He said the tasks before him were to address the large fiscal and infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment, and reviving the education, agriculture, mining and health sectors.