Liberia: Aptops, Skills, and Purpose – Kutoa Afrika Graduates 16 Young Women
– A powerful message of preparation, purpose, passion, and personality echoed through a vibrant graduation ceremony as keynote speaker Debbie Scott-Caranda urged young Liberian women to turn newly acquired digital skills into lifelong opportunities.
The event, held Friday, April 24 along Rehab Road in Paynesville, brought together graduates of a fully funded digital literacy program organized by the Kutoa Afrika Foundation (KAF), marking a milestone in efforts to equip young women with essential 21st-century skills.
Delivering the keynote address, Scott-Caranda, Proprietress of the School of Prime System, challenged the graduates to anchor their future on what she described as the “Four P’s”–Preparation, Purpose, Passion, and Personality.
She stressed that success begins with readiness, urging the young women to recognize the value of the digital skills they have acquired.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
“Preparedness means being ready with skills which people will want to pay for,” she said. “Today, you have made yourselves more ready.”
She further emphasized that clarity of purpose is key to fulfillment, while passion sustains the drive needed to achieve personal and professional goals.
On personality, she cautioned that career choices must align with individual character and values.
“If you do not enjoy helping others, then become neither a nurse nor a physician,” she advised. “It all depends on having the right personality.”
Scott-Caranda concluded by encouraging the graduates to intentionally apply these four principles as they navigate life beyond the classroom.
Top Graduates Rewarded for Excellence
The ceremony was marked by excitement and celebration as four outstanding participants were awarded high-value laptop computers for their exceptional performance.
The top graduates–Angel G. Kanneh, Kelvina B. Klein, Favor F. Musa, and Winnifred E.R. Tucker–distinguished themselves among 16 young women who completed intensive training in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
The laptops, described as premium devices with i7 processors, were valued between $1,500 and $1,700, underscoring the foundation’s commitment to rewarding excellence and promoting digital empowerment.
In his remarks, KAF Executive Director Emmanuel D. Kpoto said the program represents more than technical training.
“These are not only computing skills but opportunities,” Kpoto said. “Today, we celebrate resilience, determination and the courage to have a better future.”
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
He traced the foundation’s origins to concerns about child safety in West Point and highlighted its expansion into a broader empowerment initiative that has reached hundreds of girls across Liberia.
According to him, KAF has provided laptops, scholarships, improved school infrastructure, and expanded access to clean water in underserved communities.
Kpoto also commended the vision of Grace Ann Dinkins, noting that the program remains entirely free for participants, including transportation and meals–an approach he described as rare in Liberia.
In a special message, Elmo Dinkins congratulated the graduates and their families, encouraging them to aim high and seize emerging opportunities.
He singled out top performer Winnifred E.R. Tucker for praise, describing her as an inspiring leader with strong potential.
Representing the graduates, Tucker expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to build on the skills acquired.
“I feel very good about it because it is a very good opportunity. It is a surprise,” she said. “I will practice a lot and do my best. I would like to thank everyone.”
The ceremony concluded with renewed calls for sustained investment in the education and empowerment of young women, as the foundation reaffirmed its commitment to transforming lives through access to digital skills and opportunity.