Fendell, Montserrado County – The newly elected President of the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks has been honored by the Liberia College of the University of Liberia as a way of welcoming her in the institution.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh – [email protected]
The honor was bestowed upon her during the orientation of the College of Business and Public Administration/ College of General Studies recently at the University of Liberia, Fendell Campus.
Presenting the gift of honor, the Dean of the Liberia College at the University of Liberia, Professor Sekou W. Konneh said honoring new leadership at the UL is a tradition, adding that the fact that the Liberia College has the department of Art and Craft and there is a need to showcase the department’s endowment as a symbol of respect.
“Well, honoring new leadership is a tradition in our university (UL), and the fact that our college (Liberia College) is lucky to have the Department of Art and Craft, so we use this as an opportunity to showcase what we do as part of our program in the Liberia College. So it’s a tradition that when a new President comes we present a token as our gift to welcome her to her new position,” he said.
Professor Konneh said the ascendency of Dr. Weeks to the presidency of the University of Liberia is a great opportunity and will pave the way for the enforcement of law and order at the institution.
“Most often women are very forceful in enforcing laws and making decision to work, and so we see this as a great opportunity for the university to work and earn work. So her coming is a kind of blessing to the University of Liberia,” Professor Konneh noted.
The Dean of the Liberia College said he believes that Dr. Weeks has the ability to champion the cause of the UL, asserting that she is qualified and experienced to lead the institution.
“I believe that Dr. Weeks can lead the University, because she worked with the past President and we all are aware where he stopped, so I think she can make it, but this is a collective responsibility and not only by her, because for her to succeed, we all have to work hard to ensure that she succeeds,” he averred.
Professor Konneh used the occasion to call on students of the University of Liberia to remain focused and committed to their academic sojourn, despite the many challenges facing the institution.
Receiving the gift, the newly minted President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks expressed gratitude to the Liberia College for the honor bestowed upon her, asserting that the gift is a shower of blessing.
Also addressing students during the orientation, Dr. Weeks said the new and transferred students of the academic year of 2017/2018 are the torch bearers of her administration, paving the way for other students who will be enrolling at the university under her supervision.
“You the incoming freshman, you and you, are very important class to me aside from my history now as a President of the University.”
“Your class that is entering the UL as I have taken on the responsibility of being the University of Liberia President, so you are the torch bearers of my administration. You are paving the way for the rest of the students that will be coming after you, while I serve as President of the UL” she said.
Dr. Weeks urged students to obey the rules and regulations of the University for the betterment of quality education and discipline, noting that the success of the institution rest on the holders of the students body.
“I hope that you do a pretty good job to succeed, and I think that if we work together we will be able to succeed. Let’s work together and do what we are supposed to do in the best possible way we can so that the UL can continue to shine,” Dr. Weeks asserted.
She called on students to sacrifice and use their time wisely during their stay at the institution to achieve quality education, emphasizing that education is the foundation and key to success.
“Education is the foundation of everything we do. If you have a shaky foundation everything else is going to be shaking, so use your time wisely, prepare yourself, prepare a solid foundation so that everything you built on will continue to stand and will get better,” she averred.
Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks was inducted into office as President of the University of Liberia on September 14, 2017 following retirement of Dr. Emmet Dennis.
Dr. Weeks is the 14th President of the University of Liberia and the second female President of the institution after Madam Antoinette Brown Sherman.