22/11/2025
Yesterday, November 21, 2025, marked our CEO's representation of Halal Group of Investments as a Panelist at the ongoing 7th Annual Youth Education and Leadership Conference - AYEAL Conference. Being organized by the Youth Network for Positive Change, in collaboration with West Africa Young Parliamentarian Network (WAYPA), with a huge sponsorship from UNFPA Liberia, Actionaid Liberia, RFSU, CRS Liberia, Sapelle International Bank Liberia Limited and Roddenberry Foundation; it gladdened his heart to always reconnect with such a successful NGO, at which he once served as Program and Policy Consultant.
He commend the team's resilience, honesty and dedication that have enabled it to implement more than 10 projects and programs, just within the last 5 years. HALAL Electronics looks forward to future engagements, as means of fostering Private Sector-Actors' Partnerships. Bravo ✅
My presentation solely focused on: TOO LITTLE OR NO SUPPORT - financial, inspirational and protection. PREDOMINANTLY UNPREPARED YOUTHS: Demotivated, unqualified, unethical, with zero dedication; in order to answer the first segment of the question which has to do with “What key barriers do youth innovators face in transforming their ideas into sustainable businesses or community-driven solutions?”.
Meanwhile, the second segment of the question “How can stakeholders help overcome them?” was addressed by identifying the government role, highlighted by the responsibility expected of her: that the government should provide maximum support to legal youth-led businesses and institutions with proven records of consistency and honesty. Under this pillow, I expressed that it should budget Zero-interest loans, if not grant; conduct SMEs Organizational Management training; straighten up the job environment within the governmental scope, in order to set ethical and professional workplace standards for the rest to follow; and strengthen
Public-Private Partnerships.
In furtherance of making my idea clearer, I used the below snippets of the American and South African budgets specific focal areas that allotted to directly impact their youths:
AMERICA CASE STUDY
The US national budget for youth business in 2025 includes dedicated funds for youth activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and expanded lending through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Specifically, the FY2025 budget requests $948.1 million for WIOA youth activities and proposes over $58 billion in lending through SBA programs to support small businesses and increase access to capital.
SOUTH AFRICA CASE STUDY
South Africa's 2025/26 budget includes a R2.5 billion youth fund, managed by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), to support small businesses through loans and equity. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities received a budget of R1.36 billion, with R1.1 billion designated for transfers to the NYDA and Commission for Gender Equality. Separately, the Department of Small Business Development allocated R310 million for small business hubs and infrastructure, which will support youth entrepreneurship through improved infrastructure.
Key budget allocations for youth business - R2.5 billion Youth Fund: The NYDA is leading this initiative to support small businesses with financial aid ranging from R750,000 to R2 million per business. Funding will be a mix of loans and equity, with plans to begin distributing support in 2026.
Hope he responded adequately to the subject below:
Panel Theme:
Next-Gen Vision: Youth-Led Innovations
“What key barriers do youth innovators face in transforming their ideas into sustainable businesses or community-driven solutions, and how can stakeholders help overcome them?”
I have had the grace of traveling and returning safely. Thanks for your prayers and support!
