Suakoko, Bong County: Just over five months into his Presidency, the Liberian leader George Manneh Weah has been given an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the the Cuttington University in Bong County in central Liberia.
Cuttington, which is run by the Episcopal Church in Liberia, conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree on President George Manneh Weah on Friday at its 57th commencement convocation at the University’s main campus in Suacoco, few miles outside the provincial capital, Gbarnga.
The honour was bestowed on the 52-year-old Liberian leader as he served as the Guest Speaker at the historic commencement ceremony at one of Liberia’s oldest institutions of higher learning.
The University’s authority said the Doctorate Degree of Humane Letter (L.H.D) – Honoris Causa – is in recognition of President Weah’s accomplishments in many fields including humanity, football, peace-building and education.
President Weah was in an upbeat mood as the honour was being conferred on him. during the colourful occasion attended by his wife, First Lady Clar Weah and other top Liberian government officials.
In the citation; Cuttington University determined the many strives and impacts President Weah has made over the years on the world stage, as the only African to reach the acme of football, winning European and FIFA best player of the year, as well as the endeavors he made to bring peace to Liberia through sports, the Executive Mansion quotes the citation as saying.
The University stated as reasons for awarding the Liberian leader his “par excellence” activism and humanitarian role over the years. “During your football career, you stood off the pitch to denounce racism in football, and you became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. You used football to bring hope and joy to the children of Liberia and Africa in general,” the University recalled.
It also recalled how the President used proceeds from a “Lively UP Africa” CD in 1998 to raise funds for charity in other African countries -then beset by conflicts and social disorders.
The University also recalled President Weah’s role as peace ambassador during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2013: promote national reconciliation and peace-building, impacted and informed the decision to confer the doctorate Degree on him.
‘Your timely intervention in the recent impasse at Cuttington University has proven again that you are indeed a problem-solver, and an expert in conflict resolution. You have committed and continues to commit your personal resources and finances in peace-building initiatives,” the University recounted in the citation read by Prof. Anthony Siakor, Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs.
“In recognition of these facts, in appreciation of your selfless services to humanity and the well-being of the people of Liberia, the Board of Trustees and the Faculty Senate of Cuttington University now hereby confer you, Your Excellency, Dr. George Manneh Weah, 24th President of the Republic of Liberia, the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D) Honoris Causa, with all the rights and privileges thereto appertaining.”
President Weah served as the Commencement Speaker for the 57th Commencement Convocation during which over three hundred students received degrees in various fields of studies.