Monrovia – Several Liberians from all walks of life have received awards from the first Liberia Development Awards for their contributions to Liberia’s development.
The awards ceremony which took place Tuesday, January 31, 2017 was organized by the development community in Liberia.
Awards were awarded for work in the health, education, agricultural and business sector.
There was also an award for civil society organization of the year.
Dr. Mosoka Fallah received the award for Health Care Worker of the Year.
He has made his mark in bringing health care to the poor in communities like the Chicken Soup Factory area of Monrovia.
Theophilus Frankyu, Principal of Kpanay Town Public School in Grand Bassa County, received the Teacher of the Year Award.
Under his leadership, Kpanay Town Public School has seen remarkable increase in student enrollment and performance on the West African Examination Council Exams.
Last year 106 students from the school sat the exams and all 106 students passed.
The award for Farmer of the Year went to Mohamed V. Kamara of Lofa County.
In addition to operating his own rice farm, Kamara serves as an aggregator, providing farmers’ crucial links to markets.
The Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Edwina Dorlaseay Vakun.
She is the founder and CEO of Business Links, a firm that provides micro loans to women, particular women who run small scale business, including selling in the markets.
The Civil Society Organization of the Year award was received by Accountability Lab, a Liberian non-governmental organization that provides training and funding for individuals and groups involved in promoting accountability and anti-corruption messages.
Awards attendees voted to award a Development Hero of the Year award to Dr. Mosoka Fallah
Speaking during the program, the United States Ambassador to Liberia, Christine Elder, lauded the honorees for living lives that provide compelling narratives about Liberia’s development potential and encouraged all Liberians to follow in the honorees’ footsteps.
The USAID/Liberia Mission Director, Dr. Anthony Chan, thanked members of the organizing committee for putting together the program, which he said was meant to show-case Liberians who embody the best Liberia has to offer.