Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
Monrovia – Mark Keshen, an aspirant in the upcoming Montserrado County senatorial by-election put smiles on the faces of the students at the state-run University of Liberia when he presented a cheque of LD$1million to the student union for its scholarship drive.
The University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) scholarship fund drive is held at the beginning of every semester to enable students facing financial difficulties to remain in school.
This semester’s scholarship funds drive experienced a very low turnout of influential personalities within the country. None from the three branches of government were present or their proxies.
Keshen, serving as chief launcher of the fund drive held over the weekend, says the donation is his initial contribution to the student’s union, adding that his doors will always be opened to the UL students.
As a former student leader of the UL, Keshen says his called up to serve as chief launcher was timely.
Keshen says education is the bedrock of every society, adding deserving students must be educated as the means of being productive citizens.
He also called on the ULSU leadership to bury their “personal interest and ensure that the students go to school this semester”.
Keshen said: “What do we fight for public office for? – it is about giving back.”
Now an entrepreneur, he claims to be ready to serve the people of Montserrado County, which he described as the “cradle of Liberia’s civilization”.
“I have been around the world and I am back to give to my people, starting with Montserrado,” Keshen said as he turned over a board with the inscription of LD$1million cheque printed on it.
Martin K.N Kollie, a student leader, told FrontPage Africa that Keshen’s support to the fund drive has revived the hope of thousands of students.
“Our interest is to ensure that no student is deprived access to tertiary education because he or she lacks access to funding,” he said.
“We call on more donors, philanthropists, humanitarians and goodwill individuals to willingly contribute to the scholarship and financial aid scheme of ULSU.”
According to the student activist, Liberia can make genuine progress when the government is willing to invest more resources in quality education.
Kollie adds, “I call on the government to pass into law a National Scholarship and Financial Aid Bill for economically poor and struggling students.”
Also, many students praised Mr. Keshen for his gesture, promising to support his quest for the senatorial seat in the county.
Said Grace Toe: “Anyone who supports education; supports a brighter future. Because of his support to my education today I will be voting for him in the upcoming Montserrado County Senatorial by-election.”
Added Jacob Mulbah: “All of those who want to be senator played deaf ears to our called but at the end of the day they want us to give them power. When the time reaches we will be looking for people who have contributed to our education.”
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