MONROVIA – A Liberian journalist and founder of the Watkins Initiative For Nations (WIN), Y Solomon W. Watkins has cautioned youthful Liberians to understand that Liberia’s development is primarily anchored in the hands of the educated class.
Mr. Watkins made these remarks while serving as guest speaker during the 8th thanksgiving graduation convocation of the David Lombel Memorial Institute (DLMI) held at the Philadelphia Central Church in District 10, Montserrado County, over the weekend.
The founder of WIN who challenged the graduates on the topic: “You are the one to help change the way things currently looked,” said though Liberia depends on all of Liberians to develop, not all Liberians have the solution to the problem. For him, the solution is secured mainly in the hands of the educated class while speaking to the graduating class.
“Liberia depends on all of us but not all of us have seen the light that you saw and embraced.
“You are the one who have seen the light and understand what it means when there is no food on the table.
“You are the one who education system is condemned and termed a ‘Mess’ but you brave the storm to receive mind transformation through the very system.
“It is you!
“Yes! It is you who understand the need for social justice, academic freedom, freedom of the press and free expression, equality and economic revitalization.”
Mr. Watkins, as a young person himself, also urged the youthful Liberians to believe that the young people generation is under attack as such young educated people of the country must step in to stop what’s ongoing.
“We are the one because it’s our generation that is under attack. It is during our generation that sicknesses and diseases are on the increased. 2014 it was Ebola Virus Disease, and now it is COVID 19. We don’t know what next ahead. It during our generation, today, that everyone wants to be corrupt. Corruption is all over – in all sectors of our country and in the hearts of our people. We are the only people who can increase awareness on how to stop corruption from the way we will do things differently. Bad governance which gives birth to nepotism, sectionalism, unequal rights, impunity, no justice for the poor, poor health system, lack of accountability and transparency in public space is on the increased.
“The worse that happens is when there seems to be no hope for the future! And the only hope is you!
“Oh my dear brothers and sisters, my fellow countrymen, sons and daughters of Africa, we are the one to help deliver our motherland and nothing must stop us from doing so,” the founder of the Watkins initiative for Nations stated.
Mr. Watkins further urged the graduates to understand that there is no time for play anymore.
In his words: “As you commence, then, and before you scatter to the winds, I urge you to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance.
“Cultivate the spirit to read.
“Read, Read and read all the time. Read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing stamp of life.
“Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it! and uphold your integrity.
“Dream big. Work hard and harder. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might. And do so, please, with a sense of urgency!
“You may agree with me that in our today’s world, what we see has been the negligence of duties, neglect of the real mandate that is desired to help put food on the tables of our mama, and papa.
“We are engulfed with the very don’t care attitudes and selfishness that our founding fathers fought against.
“The very spirit of oppression, depression and suppression which have kept us backward are physically challenging our development today. We must stop this and you have the power to change the way things currently looked.
“To achieve this, I asked you to climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view.
“Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. Some of you left from the hinterland and now in Monrovia, not to cross it off your list. You have to remember your little begging. Regardless where you go tomorrow, remember you have a Liberia you are obligated to.
“Exercise free will and creative, independent thought not for the satisfactions they will bring you, but for the good they will do others, the rest of the 4.5 million of Liberia, and those who will follow them. And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself. Uphold your integrity because it’s all you have; knowing that the sweetest joys of life, would then come, only with the recognition that you owed it to your country and people!”
Meanwhile, Mr. Watkins offers scholarships to both the first and second duxes of the David Lombel Memorial Institute. The graduates of the highest honor were requested to choose any university operating in Liberia of their choice to attend going forward.