The Africa Talents Nest (ATN), a Liberian non-profit organization, has initiated a campaign urging the Liberian government to prioritize and invest in revitalizing the nation’s entertainment industry. This sector, ATN argues, holds significant potential for contributing to Liberia’s economic growth and diversification, ultimately helping the nation achieve middle-income status sooner than projected. ATN’s appeal emphasizes the urgency of this intervention, citing the World Bank’s cautionary projections for Liberia’s economic future if the country continues its current trajectory of relying heavily on natural resources without adequate investment in human capital and diversified sectors like entertainment.
ATN’s campaign, launched with a press briefing at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, is designed to engage both national and continental leaders, starting with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. The organization formally presented a proposal to the President’s office, outlining what they describe as an “innovative idea” for the entertainment sector’s revitalization, coupled with a request for government support to implement this vision. ATN’s Executive Director, Madam Marennie J. Mitchell, stressed the importance of public engagement in this effort, encouraging Liberians both at home and in the diaspora to leverage their access to the President’s office to advocate for the proposal and follow up on its progress. She underscored the significance of collective action, emphasizing that every contribution, no matter how small, plays a crucial role in achieving this shared objective.
ATN’s call for government support is anchored in the belief that Liberia’s entertainment sector, if properly nurtured, can become a significant driver of economic growth and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development. This aligns with global projections of Africa’s rising economic prosperity, a trend that ATN believes Liberia should actively participate in and benefit from. Mitchell highlighted the World Bank’s 2025 Country Economic Memorandum, which warns that Liberia’s current reliance on natural resources and underdeveloped human capital could delay its achievement of middle-income status until 2050. This report, however, also offers a more optimistic scenario: with ambitious reforms focused on economic diversification, human capital investment, and private sector growth, Liberia could achieve lower middle-income status before 2040 and significantly reduce poverty.
ATN’s proposal specifically targets the entertainment sector as a key area for investment and reform, advocating for its inclusion in the broader national development strategy. The organization believes that fostering a vibrant entertainment industry will not only contribute to economic growth but also create jobs, promote cultural expression, and enhance Liberia’s image on the global stage. This aligns with a growing global recognition of the cultural and creative industries as important contributors to national development, generating both economic value and social benefits. By investing in the entertainment sector, Liberia can tap into this global trend and leverage its rich cultural heritage to create a dynamic and sustainable industry.
ATN’s campaign emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the government and the entertainment industry to achieve these ambitious goals. The organization believes that government support, in the form of policy reforms, funding, and infrastructure development, is essential for creating an enabling environment for the sector to thrive. This includes measures to protect intellectual property rights, promote access to finance, and develop training programs to enhance the skills and capacity of those working in the entertainment industry. Through this collaborative approach, ATN envisions a future where Liberia’s entertainment sector plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth, promoting cultural expression, and contributing to the nation’s overall development.
The organization’s focus on the entertainment industry aligns with the broader global recognition of the cultural and creative industries as significant drivers of economic growth and national development. ATN’s initiative in Liberia underscores the potential of these industries to generate jobs, promote cultural expression, and contribute to a more diversified and resilient economy. By calling on the government to invest in this sector, ATN is advocating for a more inclusive and sustainable development model that recognizes the importance of cultural and creative industries in achieving national development goals. Their campaign highlights the urgent need for action, emphasizing that strategic investments in human capital and diversified sectors, like entertainment, are essential for Liberia to achieve its economic potential and secure a prosperous future.
