WHEN COMMITMENT TURNS INTO OPPORTUNITY: THE INSPIRING STORY OF A BUSINESS LEADER TRAINED BY THE IECD
When it comes to sustainable impact, the journey of Nayef, an entrepreneur who attended a vocational training centre supported by the IECD in Lebanon, is a perfect example. It was there, in his home country, that he discovered technical trades and developed solid expertise.
Above all, he forged a conviction that knowledge transfer and training are powerful levers for building a better future.
Building on this experience, he founded his first company, Electrical Power Solution (EPS), in Lebanon. He quickly began training and employing young people, convinced that the economy cannot be built without a skilled workforce.
A few years later, in search of new horizons and driven by a desire to contribute elsewhere, he chose to settle in Liberia. A country in reconstruction, with a great need for technical skills. He relaunched EPS, this time with a new ambition: to make his company a player in local transformation.
It was there that he rediscovered IECD, almost by chance. ‘When I saw their logo in Monrovia, I knew I had to get back in touch. It was like finding an old friend.’ The collaboration quickly took shape: 60 young people were trained in electrical trades, and five of them joined EPS.
It is a partnership based on shared values: professionalism, inclusion and commitment.
For him, training is at the heart of the company’s strategy. The internships offered by EPS are designed to be real springboards: personalised support, mentoring and work on real projects. ‘Some of the young people have blown us away with their motivation. They have become real pillars of the team.’
But beyond the professional aspect, it is a broader vision of entrepreneurship that is emerging. ‘My role goes far beyond creating jobs. Training, supporting and offering prospects: that’s also what entrepreneurship is all about today.’
With the IECD, he shares the same desire to build lasting bridges between training and employment, between education and economic development. Together, they show that a business can be both successful and meaningful.