Monrovia, Liberia – After finishing a life-changing internship with ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), Nimba University geology and mining engineering students are commemorating a significant academic achievement. The program provided students with the unique chance to apply classroom concepts to practical mining experience, which many said was both motivating and career-changing.
Interns were placed in the Technical Services Department, Drill & Blast, Geology, and the Mines Laboratory of AML. Drilling, blasting, mineral sampling, laboratory analysis, and general mining operations were among the practical skills they acquired. For many of them, the internship increased their determination to pursue professions in Liberia’s natural resource sector and provided an eye-opening introduction to the country’s mining industry.
Jerry P. Tiah, a student of mining engineering, said the internship helped him relate his early interest in infrastructure to the realities of industrial mining. He was assigned to Technical Services, where he gained firsthand experience with drilling, blasting, and laboratory procedures.
“In the classroom, we only learn about drilling and blasting—not all the activities that lead to mining,” he said. “Through the internship, I accessed this for the first time. The exciting part is that I’m a Liberian, and it’s through this experience that I finally visualized the mountain we’ve always been studying.”
Dahntay Vlue, a geology student, reported that his comprehension of mineral sampling and analysis greatly increased. “In my first assignment, we did soil sampling, learning how it’s done. Later in the Yekepa laboratory, I understood how materials from the mines are processed and how final analysis is acquired,” he explained, praising AML supervisors for their guidance.
Morris Gwan, a student of Mining Engineering, discovered the internship strengthened his determination to close Liberia’s skills gap in the natural resource industry. “We have a lot of resources in our country, particularly iron ore, but there aren’t many Liberians who study engineering,” he remarked. “I chose this field to serve and represent Liberia in the mining industry because of my background and passion.”
Titus Kokoi, a geology student, noted that AML made theories come to life. “We study different kinds of iron ore in class, but we are unable to recognize them by sight. I can now recognize iron ores in the field thanks to my internship with ArcelorMittal,” he remarked.
The development of Liberia’s technical manpower is still greatly aided by ArcelorMittal Liberia. The organization is assisting young Liberian students in gaining the self-assurance and useful skills necessary to make significant contributions to the future of the nation’s mining industry through practical experience, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
