MONROVIA – The University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA) today, December 15, presented certificate of honor to Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, who now serves as Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Report by Alaskai Moore Johnson, [email protected]
Before Dr. Conteh was appointed Liberia’s Ambassador to that West African superpower nation by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, he served four years as President of the University of Liberia (UL)– beginning 2004 to 2008. In this position, Dr. Conteh had to work with the faculty daily. He was among other former presidents, most of whom didn’t attend, to be honored.
The ceremony was ULFA Day in Commemoration of the 99th commencement convocation of the UL.
In brief remarks, Dr. Augustine Konneh, who recieved the honor in behalf of Professor Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, said the Ambassador accepts the honor with humility and joy.
Prof. Konneh told the audience that the Ambassador couldn’t be physically part of the program because of the exigencies of his post during this time of the year.
However, Ambassador Conteh sent this to FrontPageAfrica: “I deeply appreciate the honor betowed on me today by the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA). We experienced many challenges and opportunities together when I had the privilege to serve at our Alma Mater as the 12th President between 2004 and 2008.
“The faculty also deserves our commendation for all their sacrifices and perseverance in preparing the generation of scholars. May the Good Lord continue to bless their services to our dear country and humanity.”
Serving as guest speaker, Mr. George Mensah-Asante, CEO of Ecobank Liberia Limited, said education plays a pivotal role in the lives of everyone and all nations.
Mr. Asante emphasized that no nation develops without the building of its human capacity.
“It is against this background that Ecobank, the leading Pan African bank, has decided to partner with the University of Liberia,” he stated
As part of this partnership, the bank recently honored the Accounting graduate, who walked out of the university with the highest mark during the recent 99th graduation exercises of the university.
Speaking on ‘The Role of Higher Education,’ he stressed that this role can’t be overemphasized; adding, “The success of Liberia depends on the quality of education that it gives its citizens.”
He further stated that good higher education determines the quality of the manpower of any nation; and added: “It helps to increase the number of qualified manpower.”
Mr. Asante, who also presented certificate to some of the honorees, further told his audience that education helps to improve the quality of life of a nation and the individual thereby increasing the economy output.
According to the Ecobank CEO, the more educated the people are in the society, the lesser the crimes rate in the country.
As he thanked ULFA for the quality of education for the future leaders of Liberia, he urged them to be a research institution.
“Let our curriculum be remodeled to producing students who are going to be contemporary problem solvers,” he emphasized.
Mr. Asante promised the bank’s continued support to the UL.
Giving a brief history of ULFA, Professor Dr. Thomas G. Koon, who was one of the founding members back in the early 1970s, spoke of our difficult it was for them at the forefront of the establishment. “It wasn’t an easy task to get ULFA established. Some of our colleagues had been in the habit of taking bad news to the administration. They used to go and say all kinds of things to the administration that we want to cause trouble.
“Our idea than was about us coming together to have one voice to speak whenever we have some problems. We tried than to convince administration that ULFA was not there to cause any trouble but to work along with them to promote the university. Teachers should always work together.”
Prof. Koon disclosed that ULFA started as University of Liberia Teacher’s Association (ULTA) back in 1970s and later changed to ULFA.
He thanked God for giving him long life to still be around to see how far ULFA has come and to be honored.
He urged the present ULFA leadership to continue to press on for the benefits of the entire UL family.
Also speaking, Asst. Prof., Cllr. Viama J. Blama, president, ULFA, said he was glad that they were celebrating as it is the day on which the contributions of faculty are highly recognized.
Prof. Blama said his leadership had been engaged in nine major undertakings since taking over few months ago.
Included are promotion on job, pay raise, insurance, social security benefits, construction of ULFA office building, loan from banking Institutions, among others.
He urged his colleagues in ULFA to be a part of the peace on campus and in the nation. “Let our minds be characterized with peace. This ULFA is a new one; so this is a new day.”
He thanked the UL Administration for remitting L$4M to ULFA for the day’s celebration.
Cllr. Blama urged his colleagues to bring in good ideas for the benefits of ULFA.