The program’s lofty promises, including guaranteed loans and employment, quickly unraveled. Unattainable conditions, such as requiring bank guarantees of up to $40,000, excluded most Liberians.
To address the growing public concerns about the legitimacy of the Nekoteh work-study program, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a town hall meeting with the Nekotech Center of Excellence on Friday, November 15, 2024.
The Town Hall meeting increased public doubts about the Nekoteh work-study program.
Potential work-study program applicants raised many questions that Nekoteh’s Chief Executive Director left unanswered, leading them to think that the program was a scam.
The session, which was held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) Ministerial Complex, aimed to clarify and address growing concerns about the Nekotech Work-Study Program’s failure to meet its intended objectives.
According to Nekoteh Chief Executive Chairperson Ocansey, the non-collateral work-study requirement for poor people is not met, contrary to its initial communication to the government of Liberia.
This revelation by the Nekoteh Executive Chairperson frustrated many Liberians who desire to acquire higher education abroad, while some voiced their suspicion that the program was a scam.
Despite these glaring red flags, several government officials, including Deputy Minister for Administration at the Foreign Ministry Gabriel H. Salee, endorsed the program as a “medium” for creating opportunities.
However, these endorsements came without proper vetting or due diligence, leading to widespread public outrage.
The interactive session allowed attendees to voice their concerns, which program officials addressed in real-time. The event concluded with a commitment from both the Ministry and Nekotech Center to continue engaging the public for a successful and transparent implementation of the work-study initiative.
It wasn’t until Assistant Information Minister Matthew Nyanplu raised the alarm about the program’s misleading claims that the full extent of NEKOTECH’s deceptive nature became apparent.
Nyanplu publicly condemned the initiative, calling it exploitative and dangerous for vulnerable students, questioning why the government failed to identify these issues earlier.
Adding to the growing concerns, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sara Beysolow Nyanti’s involvement has raised serious questions about government negligence. Reports indicate that Nyanti hired a consultant, Chris Moore, to oversee the program without thoroughly reviewing NEKOTECH’s operations. Furthermore, she reportedly avoided a meeting with the organization to dodge public scrutiny, signaling a pattern of avoidance and lack of accountability from top officials.
Education Minister Jaso Jallah, who was reportedly “dragged into the scheme,” admitted to insufficient oversight and his lack of involvement in critically assessing the program before it was launched. His admission highlights the government’s systemic incompetence and failure to protect students from potential fraud.
The NEKOTECH fiasco has underscored a broader issue of governmental neglect, leaving the public to question whether the administration is truly committed to the welfare of its citizens or whether political interests have overshadowed the people’s needs.
As the investigation into the program continues, it is clear that urgent reforms are needed to hold accountable those responsible for this misstep and ensure that Liberian students are not left vulnerable to further exploitation.
