PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF FIVE-YEAR MILESTONE

Paynesville, Liberia – November 22, 2025

By Mohammed Kerkulah, Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer (CEO)
GonetAfrica, Gonet Academy & Africa Youth Leadership Academy (AYLA)

Greetings, members of the press, distinguished partners, colleagues, and friends.

Thank you for joining us today as GonetAfrica and its subsidiaries—Gonet Academy and the Africa Youth Leadership Academy (AYLA)—reach nearly five years of service, impact, and national contribution.

Since our founding in February 2021, our mission has remained clear: to empower people, strengthen institutions, and contribute to Liberia’s social and economic development through quality training, leadership development, and capacity-building services.

I am deeply grateful to God and profoundly appreciate every one of you. What started as an idea—one laptop, a small rented space, and a big dream—has grown into a national center of excellence, innovation, leadership, and empowerment.

For nearly five years, GonetAfrica and its subsidiaries—Gonet Academy and the Africa Youth Leadership Academy (AYLA)—have become symbols of what young people, when given the opportunity, can build for themselves and their nation.

From day one, we committed to building an institution grounded in strong values: Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, Accountability, Teamwork, and Transformation—E.I.I.A.T.T. These principles have guided our decisions, shaped our culture, and defined the results we celebrate today.

Today, I am pleased to present the preliminary key milestones and achievements of our nearly five years of existence and service.

1. Institutional Legitimacy & Compliance

From the beginning, we committed to operating with excellence, integrity, and full compliance. As of today, GonetAfrica holds:

• Valid business registration certificate from the Liberia Business Registry (LBR)
• Valid Tax Clearance Certificate from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA)
• Certificate of Accreditation from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Liberia, and the Center of Excellence for Education Administration, Certification, Accreditation & Licensing (CEEACAL)
• Authorization Letter from the Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau (AITB)
• Acknowledgement Letter from the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) 
• Registered, Approved, and Published Trademark for GonetAfrica, Gonet Academy, and AYLA with the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO)

These credentials establish our institutional credibility and guarantee stakeholders that we meet national standards.

2. Digital Transformation & System Strengthening

For nearly five years, we have invested in technology to modernize learning and administration:

• Online enrollment and diversified payment platforms
• A virtual learning environment supporting 200+ blended learners
• Free WiFi and a computer lab with 20+ laptops
• Digital tools: alumni platform, task management system, and trainer portal (attendance, grading, progress monitoring)
• Certificate verification system
• Ask Gonet – AI Institutional Chatbox
• GQuiz – Secure QR-Based Quiz and User Management System

These systems reflect our commitment to accessibility, transparency, and innovation.

3. Brand Visibility, Community Reach & Engagement

Our digital footprint has grown massively:

• 38,700+ followers on Facebook
• 5,000+ active WhatsApp community members
• 10,000+ monthly website visitors
• 20+ media institutions engaged, reaching millions of people globally
• Average reach of 4 million people every 28 days

This broad reach demonstrates public trust in our programs and the relevance of our message.

4. Institutional Capacity & Human Capital

Our operations are powered by:

• 20 full-time administrative staff and 2 volunteers, with 36% being female
• 30+ highly qualified and experienced Training Specialists
• A comprehensive 3-Year Strategic Plan aligned with the Government’s national development plan (AAID), Sustainable Development Goals, AU Agenda 2063, and the ECOWAS Vision 2050
• Institutional policies guiding HR, Finance, M&E, Operations, and Program Quality

We are intentional about building systems—not personalities—and ensuring sustainability.

5. Partnerships & Institutional Impact

GonetAfrica has partnered with a diverse range of institutions to deliver training, research, and consultancy services.

To date, we have impacted more than:

• 500 institutions across the government, private sector, academia, and NGOs
• 10+ formal institutional partnerships, including capacity-building, research, and organizational strengthening

These partnerships demonstrate confidence in our expertise and professionalism.

6. Training, Learning & Youth Development Impact

Our work has reached thousands of professionals and young people across Liberia:

• 5,000+ youth and professionals trained in employable, market-relevant, and leadership skills
• 4,000+ graduates from all 15 counties, with the majority being female
• 100+ young leaders trained through AYLA
• 30+ certificate, diploma, comprehensive, advanced, and specialized programs, covering project management, M&E, HR, logistics, supply chain, ICT, finance, data analysis, entrepreneurship, communication, leadership, and more

These are direct contributions to Liberia’s human capital development.

7. Program Results & Performance Metrics

Our performance over the years shows strong, consistent growth:

• 30%+ annual enrollment increase
• 85% average completion rate
• 99%+ satisfaction rate across cohorts
• 95% positive ratings for trainers, learning environment, and learning outcomes

The impact is clear:

• At least 30% of graduates have reported securing new jobs, promotions, increased salary, improved performance, and internships within three to six months of completion.
• More than 200 participants have launched or strengthened micro and small enterprises in fields such as digital services, logistics, consulting, and agribusiness.
• About 77% of graduates have reported increased knowledge, 91% gained career-relevant skills, 80% improved career decision making, 75% improved job performance, and 88% increased confidence.

These results are evidence-based, reflecting strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.

Our journey has always been about people—empowering individuals, strengthening institutions, and transforming communities. Every number represents a life impacted, a career advanced, a business strengthened, or a leader developed.

Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years

As we enter our next chapter, GonetAfrica will focus on:

• Expanding digital learning and regional reach
• Strengthening youth leadership programs through AYLA
• Deepening institutional partnerships locally and internationally
• Enhancing research, M&E, and organizational development support services
• Increasing accessibility of programs for underserved communities, including persons with disabilities 
• Building stronger alumni structures and professional networks for student success 

Our commitment remains unwavering: to empower, to equip, to elevate, and to transform.

Conclusion

On behalf of the entire GonetAfrica team, I extend my thanks to our learners, graduates, partners, staff, trainers, and every Liberian who has believed in our vision.

We stand ready for the future—with greater clarity, stronger systems, and a deeper commitment to national development.

Thank you.
God bless you, God bless GonetAfrica, and God bless the Republic of Liberia.