PHOTO: BWI Principal Dr. Nancy T. Freeman
By Abraham K. Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia–The Booker Washington Institute (BWI) has been officially designated as a key national partner in the Government of Liberia’s flagship “Yellow Machines” initiative, a major step toward building local capacity in the operation and maintenance of heavy earth-moving equipment.
The government’s initiative, which marks a huge investment in Liberia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, positions BWI as the primary interview and training hub for operators of the yellow machines recently procured by the government for national infrastructure projects.
Speaking to Reporters in Kakata, BWI Principal Dr. Nancy T. Freeman expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. for entrusting the institution with this critical national responsibility.
“This is truly a dream come true, not only for the Booker Washington Institute but also for the educational sector of Liberia,” Dr. Freeman stated. “We are deeply grateful… for recognizing BWI as a model TVET institution. This initiative represents a significant milestone for Liberia’s entire technical education landscape.”
The formal declaration was made by the Executive Chairperson and National Coordinator of the Yellow Machines Board of Authority (YMBOA) on March 1, 2026. It underscores the government’s strategy to leverage local expertise for its national development agenda.
To assess readiness, a technical team from YMBOA visited the BWI campus on March 10, 2026. held extensive discussions with the administration and conducted a thorough evaluation of the institute’s facilities, technical resources, and training capacity to screen and train future equipment operators.
Dr. Freeman emphasized that BWI remains fully committed to supporting the government’s goal of building indigenous capacity in infrastructure development. “We are dedicated to providing practical, high-quality technical training that meets national needs,” the BWI Principal added.
The Booker Washington Institute has reaffirmed its pledge to collaborate closely with the Liberian government and the YMBOA to ensure the program’s success.
The administration views this partnership as a historic opportunity to advance technical education while making a tangible contribution to Liberia’s infrastructure transformation and long-term development goals.