-Out Of 386 UL Science College graduates 191 are females
By Mark N. Mengonfia –mmenginfia@gmail.com
Liberian women are said to be taking their education seriously and are competing with their male counterparts, even in the sciences and other technical fields.
This is the case with this week’s graduation of some 386 students from T.J.R. Faulkner College of Science and Technology.
Out of a total of 386 students, who walked out the science collage from UL, females accounted for 191 while the remaining 195 were males, UL officials announced during the 99th graduation convocation on Wednesday, November 5, 2018.
Years back, female students were predominantly pursuing business courses in the College of Business and Public Administration. But the table has turned today, with female students now competing with their male counterparts in the sciences.
Wednesdays’ graduation saw 293 students earning degree in Biological Sciences, 43 in Chemistry, 12 in Mathematics, two in Physics, 23 in Nursing, and 8 in Midwifery.
The Dean of the College, Dr. Peter S. Humphrey applauded his faculty for their selfless approach to duty in preparing the students.
Dr. Humphrey challenged the graduates to see themselves as valuable assets that will positively impact the Liberian economy.
Paying tribute to the founder of the Science College, Dr. Humphery said the UL College of Science and Technology has been able to reach this far due to the role played by the man in whose honor the college was named.
“Born in North Carolina in 1869, Thomas Jefferson Richelieu Faulkner was a scholar in the field of engineering,” Dr. Humphery said.
“He is credited to be the first person to introduce electricity, telephone and the ice factory in Liberia. As a public figure, he also served as Mayor of the City of Monrovia. This is the man the President of the University of Liberia is urging graduates of the College to emulate,” the current Dean of the UL Science College told the audience.
In her routine special greetings to attendants and graduates, the President of the University, Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks disclosed the a plan has been approved to add a Computer Science and Information and Communication Technology division to the College of Science and Technology.
She said that the University of Liberia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Obafemi Awolowo University, in Nigeria, to provide support for this latest development at the state-run University.
Dr. Weeks pointed out that the support of the government and other partners is needed to make the approved plan a reality, noting that science and technology are critical drivers for the development of any country.
For his part, the valedictorian of the Collage, Julian Cooke encouraged his colleagues to live up to the motto of the University with integrity and bring dignity to themselves and the UL family.
Mr. Cooke, who has earned BSC in Biology, reflected on the rigors of learning he endured at the UL, challenging students of the state-run University not to be deterred by the challenges they face during their academic sojourn.
The Science College, which is named after a renowned engineer and politician, Thomas Jefferson Richelieu Faulkner, was annexed to the University of Liberia on June 1, 1974. It has since been the leading college preparing some of Liberia’s outstanding Scientists.