Monrovia – The African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) on Camp Johnson Road in Monrovia has decided to name its graduate school in honor of the Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress, Mr. Alexander Benedict Cummings.
In a letter to Mr. Cummings, the President of AMEU, Dr. Joseph T. Isaac (PhD), stated “I am delighted to inform you that in recognition of your ongoing financial support of our Graduate School, and our existing partnership with the Cummings Africa Foundation, the University has decided to honor you.”
The university’s graduate school shall be named “Alexander B. Cummings School of Graduate Studies.” In addition to this honor, the AME Church-run University says it has also selected the Cummings Africa Foundation as its “2019 Partner of the Year.” Both awards are expected to be bestowed on Mr. Cummings during AMEU’s 19th commencement convocation scheduled to be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica, Dr. Isaac disclosed that over the last four years, Mr. Cummings through his effort when he was with Coca Cola International, was able to get this multinational company to establish a Coca Cola Institute for Innovation on the campus of AMEU.
“And when he retired from Coca Cola, he was also able to make available scholarships for our students in the institute. These students have to make the grades to get on the scholarship,” Dr. Isaac added.
This institute, which is a lab for intense research purposes intended for national problem solving, cost over US$30,000 to be set up.
“Mr. Cummings has been very supportive. I asked him to support our Graduate School and he gave the University a substantial amount of money to our Graduate School. This donation tops the line and so we thought it wise to name the school in his honor,” Dr. Issac told this newspaper.
Also speaking to FPA, the honoree, Mr. Cummings stated how excited and humbled he is to have such recognition bestowed upon him.
“I have a long-standing tie and good association with AMEU. I was awarded an honorary degree,” he stated and added: “The Cummings Africa Foundation (CAF) and Coca Cola are partners with them.”
The ANC Political Leader disclosed how CAF and Coca Cola’s partnership with the University has led to the funding of several projects, which are visible on the campus today.
“The honor is not just for me but the entire family. Education is the key to sustaining and building Liberia; this is why this Foundation has focused on education. We will continue to work with the Graduate School in order to make sure that the graduate degrees that are awarded can compete with any graduate degrees anywhere,” he stated.
Mr. Cumming further disclosed that he is a great admirer of Dr. Isaac.
Mr. Cummings continues to make tremendous contributions and investments in the education sector through the Cummings Africa Foundation, which has provided support to the Nimba County Community College, scholarships to hundreds of students, payment of WAEC fees, the establishment of the Alexander Cummings Model Science and Technology Institute on the Duport Road among others. Mr. Cummings through the ANC has remained committed to providing assistance to institutions of higher learning around the country, including the recent re-roofing of the Grand Bassa County Community College’s Agriculture Building which was affected by a storm.
This year, AME University is expected to graduate approximately 400 undergraduate students across all colleges and disciplines and the inaugural class of the Graduate School will put out its first nine students.