MONROVIA – A team of six Liberian students are expected to represent Liberia in late June for a high-level academic engagement in Côte d’Ivoire.
By Francis G. Boayue
The initiative, spearheaded by the Liberia Olympic Foundation in collaboration with the African Olympic Academy, marks a significant milestone in the country’s push to elevate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The delegation is scheduled to participate in a plenary session running from June 27 to July 4, joining young scientific and mathematical talents from across Africa.
The STEM Champions representing Liberia include: Mark Tambah, Mavies Cole, Khalifa L. Dolley, Melvin Gizzie, Massanjay Kamara, and Mariam Kromah.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, April 27, J. MacMillan Vaye, Co-Founder of the Liberia Olympic Foundation, revealed that the final six champions were culled from a competitive pool of nearly 600 students across Montserrado County during a pilot phase.
He said through multiple rounds of testing and institutional recommendations, the group was narrowed to 30 and eventually, the final six.
According to him, this program is about recruiting, training and retaining students for Liberia’s transformation. “We have bright students, but we lack the right structure to fully harness their potential,” Vaye stated.
Ahead of their departure, the students will undergo two months of intensive online and residential training.
This preparation includes a planned exchange with a team from Sierra Leone to sharpen their competitive edge. Vaye noted that the competition’s unique model forbids the use of calculators, forcing students to justify their reasoning and explain their methodology.
“It’s an approach aimed at building analytical and innovative thinking,” he added.
He further said the foundation’s efforts align with the Government of Liberia’s national development priorities, specifically regarding human capital development.
Vaye called on the government to assist with logistics, such as transportation and passports, noting that other program costs are covered by partner institutions.
Assistant Minister for STEM and TVET at the Ministry of Education, Nathaniel K. Cisco, Jr., delivered an impassioned address during the team’s unveiling, urging the students to see themselves as ambassadors of a new Liberia.
“You can be anything you want to be. Go out there, stay confident, and make your country proud,” Minister Cisco told the students, describing
them as “Liberia’s stars” and a testament to the country’s growing investment in youth development.
“This is just the beginning. We are building a pipeline of young innovators who will shape Liberia’s future,’’ Minister Cisco added. ‘West Africa Can Lead Its Own Health Future’
