Gonet Academy CEO Nominated for Prestigious MTN MoMo Heroes of Change Award

By William Q. Harmon, Media and Communications Strategist, Gonet Academy

Lonestar Cell MTN has announced Mr. Mohammed Kerkulah, Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer (CEO) of GonetAfrica and its flagship capacity-building arm, Gonet Academy, as one of 30 distinguished nominees for the 2025 MoMo Heroes of Change Award. His nomination was selected from a pool of 1,916 submissions, underscoring the far-reaching impact of his work in education, empowerment, and community development.

The announcement, made on Monday, September 1, 2025, spotlights changemakers who are driving progress and inspiring hope across Liberia. The MoMo Heroes of Change, held under the theme “Touching Lives, Enabling Progress”, is MTN’s flagship initiative honoring individuals and organizations making measurable contributions in education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment, community development, and technology.

This year’s top three winners will receive financial awards to further expand their impact: 1st Prize: LRD 2,000,000; 2nd Prize: LRD 1,000,000; and 3rd Prize: LRD 500,000.

“MoMo Heroes of Change is not a competition; it’s a platform to showcase Liberian changemakers,” Kerkulah shared on social media following the announcement.

This is his second consecutive nomination, after advancing to the Top 10 in 2024. Reflecting on last year’s experience, he noted: “Though I didn’t win, the platform amplified our visibility and allowed me to build meaningful connections.”

A True Changemaker

As CEO of Gonet Academy, Kerkulah’s influence is visible across Liberia. He has dedicated his life to empowering youth, women, and professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to thrive in today’s economy and contribute to national development.

With more than 4,000 young people empowered through professional education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology programs, his leadership has made Gonet Academy one of Liberia’s leading capacity-building institutions.

“Our mission has always been to transform education into empowerment,” Kerkulah emphasized in a recent interview.

Under his stewardship, the Academy has become a gender-responsive institution where women now represent 56% of enrolled students—a historic shift in fields like Project Management, Procurement, Human Resources, ICT, and Monitoring & Evaluation.

“Empowering women through education is not just a moral imperative; it’s an economic and social necessity,” a Gonet Academy statement reads.

Driving Impact Through Education

In just the last 18 months, Gonet Academy has: Enrolled 3,300+ learners across five consecutive cohorts (Cohorts 8–12); Increased female participation by 16% compared to the previous year; Maintained an 80% average completion rate; and Supported graduates in securing jobs, promotions, and internships within 3–6 months of completion.

Beyond professional growth, the Academy’s alumni are launching businesses, improving workplace performance, and strengthening community development efforts. Employers—including government ministries, NGOs, banks, and private companies—have credited Gonet Academy graduates with boosting organizational productivity.

With Cohort 13 underway and the launch of the Gonet Academy Virtual Learning Environment (GA-VLE)—which will provide free internet access for students and trainers—the Academy is poised to train 5,000+ professionals by the end of 2025, extending opportunities to underserved rural counties.

Kerkulah’s Vision for the Award

Should he win the MoMo Heroes of Change Award, Kerkulah intends to invest directly in rural communities: “I plan to expand our work in rural Liberia and touch at least 100 lives—especially youth and women—by improving human capital and contributing to community development and national growth.”

About the MoMo Heroes of Change 2025

Nominations for the award were made nationwide through the Lonestar Cell MTN official website. After a rigorous vetting process by a panel of experts in health, education, empowerment, technology, and community development, 30 nominees were shortlisted.

The next stage includes two rounds of public voting eliminations, after which five finalists will advance to the grand finale. Winners will be determined through a combination of public votes (30%) and judges’ evaluations (70%).

Voting is free and open to all Liberians. MTN has urged the public to participate and shine a spotlight on the changemakers who inspire them most.

Support Liberia’s Real Changemaker

Kerkulah’s vision and results speak for themselves. Through GonetAfrica and Gonet Academy, he continues to empower individuals, uplift communities, and shape Liberia’s future workforce.

As the MoMo Heroes of Change 2025 unfolds, let us stand with him.
Let the real changemaker emerge. Vote Mohammed Kerkulah.