MONROVIA – The National Commission on Higher Education Director-General, Madam Mawine G. Diggs, is calling on authorities of higher institutions of learning, which are providing tertiary education, to develop curriculums that are tailored for present day job market.
Report by Alaskai Moore Johnson, [email protected]
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend, Director-General Diggs emphasized that it was unfortunate for students to graduate from university and be out of job.
The ceremony at which the National Higher Education DG spoke was the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University groundbreaking for the construction of a 30-room building.
Speaking further, Madam Mawine G. Diggs lauded the University for the initiatives and called on other universities to provide better learning environment for their students in addition to quality education.
“We have significant obligation to ensure that we are not just providing education, but quality education and standardized facilities to the people of Liberia. We are on path with where higher education should be in Liberia,” Director Diggs, who also pledged US$500 when she broke grounds, said.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place over the weekend on the AMEZU’s campus in Vincent Town, Po River, Lower Bomi County.
The project is valued US$200,000. It is part of the Interim Management Committee’s initiative to fully move the university from its Benson Street Campus in Central Monrovia to its Po River facilities, which is situated on a 100-acre land.
At the groundbreaking, Dr. Benjamin D. Lartey, acting chairperson and co-chairperson of AME Zion University Interim Management Committee, said they were delighted to break ground for its new facilities.
Dr. Lartey said in addition of the 30 rooms, they will also add two laboratories.
“We have 100 acres of land in Vincent Town. We intend to fully utilize the space. We had a master plan developed in 2014 for Po River. We envisage a state-of-the-art university.”
According to Dr. Lartey, in the coming six month, they will extend invitation for another groundbreaking, which will be aimed at the construction of a 36-classroom building, technology facilities, 15 offices.
According to him, the 24 classrooms and six-office facility will be completed in three months; adding: “We will immediately move into the building.”
Dr. Lartey disclosed that the management team also intends to bring more buses to assist in commuting students from Monrovia to its Vincent Town campus, initiative that commenced since the university opened classes in Po River.
Dr. Lartey, who is one of the seven-member interim team, currently managing the university, said the 100 acres of land it has in Vincent Town Po River, was donated to it by the late Bishop Solomon D. Lartey.
Giving a brief history of the institute, Dr. Lartey said the university, started few years ago as a business school and later to a community college. “It is now a full-flesh university and over the years more than 30,000 students have passed through its walls.”
Also speaking, AMEZU Board of Trustee chairperson, Dr. Nadu Cooper, stated that with the construction of the new edifice, their institution will continue to be the destination for students.
Rev. Dr. Mulbah Gray, president emeritus of the AME Zion University and current president of the Bomi County Community College (BCCC), said he was delighted to witness and partake in the groundbreaking.
Dr. Gray, who was the first Liberian to become president of the university after serving as Vice President for Administration, pledged 100 bags of cement and promised to support the university to ensure success.
“This was the vision we had, while taking over in 1997, two decades ago, but had numerous challenges. Some critics indicated that transitioning to Po River will slump the enrollment, because of lack of means for students to commute and we said the devil was a liar.
Jumah E. S. Goll, Bomi County inspector, who represented Bomi Superintendent, said the AMEZU’s relocation to Bomi County has brought proud to the county, lauding the administration for the initiative.
“Our children were finding it difficult to move to Monrovia to further their education, especially university education. Today, the construction of the 24-classroom building and other facilities will create more space for other students to enroll at the university. We will continue to support the university,” Mr. Goll said. AME Zion University was established in 1983 with the founding of the AME Zion School of business and attached to the AME Zion Academy, and finally transitioned as college in 1987 and now full-flesh university.