Monrovia — For eleven Liberian professionals, what once lived in the realm of dreams is now becoming a reality.
By Patience M. Jones
With excitement written across their faces and big aspirations filling their hearts, the selected fellows gathered at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor on Wednesday for a pre-departure reception as they prepare to leave Liberia for Ireland, where they will pursue fully funded Master’s degrees in some of the country’s leading universities.
The reception, hosted by the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia, brought together the 2026 cohort of the Ireland Fellows Programme, their families, colleagues, representatives of their institutions, alumni of the programme and members of the media.
For the fellows, the gathering was more than a farewell ceremony. It was a moment of reflection, gratitude and anticipation as they prepare to embark on an academic journey expected to strengthen their professional capacities and, ultimately, contribute to Liberia’s development.
The 2026 cohort is the largest since the Ireland Fellows Programme was introduced in Liberia in 2016, with eleven Liberians selected to study at ten different universities across Ireland.
Addressing the gathering, Irish Ambassador to Liberia Gerard Considine described the fellowship as an important investment in Liberia’s human capital and a critical component of Ireland’s development cooperation.
“We are delighted to welcome you tonight to the pre-departure event for this year’s cohort of Irish Fellows,” Ambassador Considine said, describing their departure as a journey that will benefit the fellows, their institutions and, most importantly, Liberia.
According to the Ambassador, the Ireland Fellows Programme is a flagship initiative of Irish development cooperation globally, having supported about 5,000 fellows over the past 53 years.
Since the programme began in Liberia in 2016, more than 50 Liberians have benefited from the opportunity, studying in fields ranging from human rights, climate change and agriculture to cybersecurity, business and management.
This year’s fellows will pursue Master’s degrees in areas including Climate Change and Agriculture, Human Rights, Global Health, Supply Chain Management, International and Sustainable Business Strategy, Public Policy, Financial Analytics and Accounting.
The fellows come from nine different Liberian institutions, including government ministries, agencies and commissions, as well as civil society organizations.
Ambassador Considine challenged the outgoing fellows to see themselves not only as scholarship recipients but as ambassadors of Liberia while in Ireland.
He urged them to build lasting personal and professional relationships, strengthen institutional linkages between Liberia and Ireland, and return home ready to apply the knowledge and skills gained abroad.
‘You Are the Cream of the Crop’
For some of the fellows, the journey to Ireland is also a deeply personal one.
Cllr. J. Alben Greaves, Director/Legal Counsel at the Department of Economic Affairs, who previously benefited from the programme, used his experience to prepare the new fellows for the realities ahead.
Congratulating the selected professionals, Greaves reminded them that being chosen from among numerous applicants was itself a significant achievement. “You are the cream de la cream,” he told the fellows, emphasizing that their selection demonstrates the confidence placed in their abilities and potential.
But Greaves also offered a personal twist to his remarks.
Rather than simply bidding farewell to the fellows, he revealed that he, too, would soon be preparing for Ireland because his wife had been selected for the programme. His experience, he said, had taught him that preparing for an international academic journey involves more than packing a suitcase.
For fellows who are employees, supervisors, parents and spouses, he encouraged them to begin making practical arrangements, including handing over responsibilities, communicating with supervisors and ensuring that their families and workplaces are properly prepared for their absence.
Beyond the Classroom
Greaves also shared practical advice from his own experience, urging the fellows to prepare for unexpected challenges during international travel.
From keeping travel documents secure and having access to emergency funds to properly tagging luggage and preparing for Ireland’s unpredictable weather, he encouraged the fellows to remain alert and adaptable.
But beyond the practical preparations, he emphasized the importance of networking. The fellows, he said, should not isolate themselves in their apartments or limit their relationships to other Liberians. Instead, they should engage their classmates, professors, universities and the wider Irish community.
“You went there for the most important part – study,” he reminded them, stressing that academic excellence must remain their primary objective.
He further encouraged them to make use of university libraries, seminars, conferences and professional opportunities while maintaining academic integrity and proper referencing.
An Investment in Liberia’s Future
The Ireland Fellows Programme offers selected Liberian professionals the opportunity to pursue fully funded one-year Master’s programmes in Ireland.
The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, living expenses and flights, with programmes selected to support Liberia’s national development priorities and the Government of Ireland’s Embassy Strategy in Liberia. The initiative is built around a simple but powerful idea: investing in people to strengthen institutions and accelerate national development.
For the eleven fellows preparing to depart, the scholarship therefore represents more than an opportunity to earn a Master’s degree.
It is a responsibility. They will travel carrying not only their academic ambitions, but also the expectations of their families, institutions and country.
As they prepare to exchange Liberia’s familiar environment for Ireland’s classrooms, universities and communities, their journey marks another chapter in Liberia’s growing investment in human capacity.
And when they return, the real test will begin – how they transform the knowledge gained abroad into solutions, stronger institutions and opportunities for the next generation of Liberians.
For now, however, the countdown has begun. The dreams are no longer just dreams. Ireland awaits.
