Honorary Doctorate degrees continue to be showered on Liberian President George Manneh Weah, who took office some eleven months ago–on January 22, 2018..
Already a recipient of at least two honorary Phds, the former international footballer-turned politician on Wednesday got another honorary Doctor of Human Letters in Business Administration from the state-owned University of Liberia (UL) at its 99th commencement convocation.
Some of his loyalists from his ruling CDC are now referring to the President as “Dr. Dr.Dr” George Weah.
The conferral of the degree coincided with the graduation ceremony of the graduate and professional schools at the UL Fendall campus outside Monrovia, where President Weah also served as Keynote speaker.
The Liberian leader inspired graduates of the nation’s highest institutionof learning to be more pragmatic in the application of their new skillsets as they match out of the nation’s only Public Institution of higher learning so as to leave behind legacy of distinction.
President Weah, who served as keynote speaker of the 99th commencement convocation of the University, said graduates of Universities must turn their thoughts to what legacy they will leave in their time instead of sitting with their degrees.
“Today I want to speak to you on the topic:Your legacy. Webster Dictionary defines legacy as something transmitted by or received from an ancestor, or predecessor, or from the past. Using that definition, you must immediately think of yourselves, what have we received from our ancestors and from those who have preceded us? For many of you your answer will vary from the critical to the negative. For others it may be a legacy of courage, strength and perseverance. Both of you would be right, Liberia has indeed being left with a legacy that is different and complex. It is within these complexities, however, that we must learn, grow and succeed.” President Weah told the 99th graduating class of the state run University.
He admonished young people to desist from the tendency of describing youths as future leaders by considering themselves leaders in their respective capacities and communities.
“You may think and say: Legacy! I am too young to think about legacy, I have just started in creating my own life. I am more concerned and worried about my future and what it holds. Should I be thinking about legacy at this time? Well, to that I say you will make choices today that will shape your future and the choices you make will indeed determine your legacy.”
The President warned the graduates that legacy is not something achieved by one great action, one great success or one great failure but it is a sum of the many small decisions they will make throughout their lives as people with professional training.
The President noted that the graduates are part of the privileged few who have been empowered educationally and they should start to put their acquired knowledge to use for the good of the country, adding that they have the collective power to shape the new Liberia.
“You have no time to waste in putting your new acquired skillset and knowledge to work as leaders. Wherever you are you can, and must begin now, to contribute to the dialogue and narrative that will define your presence and shape your future.” President Weah said.
He stimulated the 3,302 graduates to be solution seekers and problem solvers, adding they may not know the future but they can use the presence to shape it because those who shape the future will own it.
President told the convocation that Liberia is in the midst of a paradigm shift in its political dispensation where the touch of leadership has been passed on to a younger generation, stating that there is no significant generational gap between those who lead and those that are led.
“With this new phenomenon comes the reality that we have a collective power to shape the new Liberia, and with this power, comes a greater responsibility. It is no longer enough for you to expect others to find solutions and make changes. It is time, as graduate, that you begin to think and ask yourself, what problem of our beloved nation can I help to solve, as I leave these walls and enter the real world?
“I encourage each you to be solution seeker and problem solver. Your education here at the University of Liberia has prepared you to go out in the world to find solutions.”
He emphasized that knowledge is important to help improve the prospects of one’s life and it was time for people graduating from Universities think critically to solve problems confronting the world.
“Graduates you must be solution oriented. Our country is in a phase of rebuilding after legacy left by years of war, by political; financial corruption, the destruction of our infrastructure, the devastation of our economy and the erosion of our ethical, moral and social values. Solutions are needed. As members of this new generation, to whom the touch of leadership has been passed, we…I mean all of us, including you, are faced with an urgent need for the restoration of our infrastructure, our economy and our ethical, moral and social values. President Weah told the graduates.
He acknowledged that there is also an urgent need to create new economic opportunities for all Liberians, “this is our common task for both the leaders and the led, and we must commit ourselves to this transformation.”
President Weah stated that Liberians are writing the country’s history together and it was time to contribute to the change by being part of the creative and innovative approach as to how they can shift the future.
The Liberian leader noted that graduates of the University of Liberia have not only acquired employable skills but how to think critically, saying the knowledge and value instilled in them will help the prospects of developing their lives, their families and their country, saying “use these skills and values as the guiding principles in solving problems to build your legacy.”
He at the same time repeat his plea to every Liberian to seek solution through dialogue and negotiation over protest and demonstration.
“As you go into the world, seek peaceful and lawful methods of problem solving and conflict resolution. Today you are enjoying the dividend of dialogue, the positive result of taking a different path. You will recall that I personally intervene on a number of occasions since my incumbency, invited protesters, many of whom are students of this University.” President Weah stated.
President who is an official visitor to the University said Liberians must keep in mind that success is a process and that dreams are not immediately realized.
The Liberian leader concluded his address to the 99th convocation of the University of Liberia by beseeching graduates of the University to not put to end their relationship with the University of Liberia, stating that the need give back to alma mater is crucial.
In her greetings to the 99th commencement convocation, the UL President, Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks lauded the Liberian government for waiving tuition at the University, stating that move helped 66% of students at the University who depended on aid to continue their studies.
Dr. Weeks also heaped praise on the government for automating the University’s registration process that has since enhanced the workings of the UL and brought peace and tranquility to the campuses of the University.
The 99th convocation of the University saw the granting of degrees to 3302 persons, bringing to total 37,808 the number of persons that passed through the walls of the nation’s oldest institution of higher learning.
In her words to thestudents, Dr. Weeks said: “Let your degrees count for something.” Report by George Sharpe, President of the Mass Communication Students Association at the UL