Open Letter to the President of the University of Liberia to Establish an Information and Technology Division in the T.J.R Faulkner College of Science and Technology
Dear President Dr. Ophelia I. Weeks,
I wish to respectfully convey my compliments hoping that this letter find you in good health. Please accept my warmest greetings. I will also like to use this opportunity to appreciate you from the depth of my soul for the creation of the digital online portal for registration process at the University of Liberia.
Be it as it may, Dr. Weeks, it is very clear that the university of Liberia had the T.J.R Faulkner College of Science and Technology since June 1st, 1997 and since the establishment of this technological college, it has consisted of two divisions: A natural Science Division encompassing of Biological science, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics Department; on the other hand is the Engineering Division encompassing of Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geology, and Mining Engineering which is very vital. Unfortunately, the Division of Information and Technology has been left out and this failure is very precarious toward the development of Liberia in this Information Technology age.
As you may know, the goal of the University of Liberia is to support national progress and prosperity through human capital. In meeting this goal in this technological age, the Division of Information and Technology need to be setup in the University of Liberia. You once said that, it is your dream for the University of Liberia to be among the top ten (10) universities in Africa but how can it happen when the University of Liberia do not have a division of Information and Technology when many of the countries in Africa, such as follow; Ghana, Rwanda, Ivory coast and Kenya state run universities are having Information and Technology division? The division of Information and Technology need to be integrated in the state run university to create more problem solvers instead of problem seekers for rapid economic growth and social development in Liberia.
One of the main problems of ICT adoption in a society and corporations is caused by lack of ICT professionals likewise Liberia that’s lacking technological manpower power base, I must admit. Low number of ICT experts in economies of any countries cause lower innovation activities likewise Liberia , that’s the reason, many of the technological systems and contracts of our nation are done by foreigners, such as follow, IFMIS, Asecuda, the National Biometric ID card and many more. Setting up the division of Information and Technology in the state run university with free education will disrupt this status quo by training more technologists that will make Liberia to not only be consumer of technology but producer of technology. Setting up the Information and Technology division will promote excellence in our ICT sector and reduce government expenditure on reliance of foreign companies to provide our noble nation with many tech solutions.
There are many private institutions that are offering BSc IT in Liberia but it is very expansive. Majority of the students doing ICT are children from wealthy backgrounds. What about the less fortunate children with the right and passion to become ICT experts to develop Liberia? On Wednesday, October 24, President George M. Weah abolished tuition fees for every undergraduate student in the University of Liberia which is very fantastic for the transformation of Liberia. Our prolific President has already created the platform for every undergraduate student in Liberia to obtain education in the state run university and it is time for the Division of Information and Technology to be setup for both the less fortunate and fortunate students to obtain BSc in Information and Technology.
You once said that the reason you are delaying the process of setting up the Information Communication and Technology Division in the state run university is that there are many unqualified teachers to teach information and Technology in Liberia. Are you telling us that we should wait for qualify teachers in the field of Technology before Information and Technology Division will be created in the T.J.R Faulkner College of Science and Technology? We are tired waiting since 1997 to present. It will be prudent that you start with a public private partnership with some of the Tech develop countries to start the process because it was the same PPP method that Ghana, Tanzania and Mauritius used to setup a vibrant ICT division in their state run universities.
Investing in Information Communication and Technology is essential in taking any country to the next level and Liberia is no exception. The economy of Liberia is becoming to be dependent on Information communication and Technology, it is very critical that you work more closely with time to integrate ICT Division in the T.J.R Faulkner College of Science and Technology in the university of Liberia to mold the minds of many students with the passion of making Information and Technology their career to maximize the value of digital innovation in Liberia. It is my ardent hope that my request contain herein will be appropriately considered.
May God grant you wisdom and fortitude to lead the University of Liberia to become one of the top ten (10) Universities in Africa.
Thanks.
Respectfully yours,
Foldestine Paye
Vice President of Liberia Information Technology student Union
+231775751153
