SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba – Nimba University has held its 8th commencement convocation, graduating 119 students on Saturday, August 17.
Nimba University, formerly Nimba County Community College, was established in 2010, with academic activities beginning on September 19, 2011. The institution soon earned a reputation as the fastest-growing community college in the country due to its high enrollment.
To date, 1,033 students have received associate degrees from the institution, while more than 100 have received certificates from the TVET program.
At this year’s convocation, Dehpue Y. Zuo called on graduates to build a vibrant and productive society that can respond to the needs of current and future generations of the country.
Zuo, the deputy finance minister for economic management, said Liberians have to push to become business owners, school proprietors, owners of clinics and hospitals, geologists, and agriculturists to improve productivity in the country’s economy.
He believes the current generation has more opportunities than past generations because they have free democratic space to express themselves, access to secondary and tertiary education across the country, proliferation of information on the internet and radio stations that can used for empowerment in decision-making, and roads and energy infrastructure to facilitate their movements across the country.
Zuo told the graduating class they could impact their country without living in Monrovia.
“Interestingly, we made efforts as a country, but we have wider gaps to achieve all of these goals,” he addressed the crowd. “Therefore, we have to be more ambitious and not only as a government, but we need to be [the] ambitious generation to close the gap and you as a graduating class and also students here, you have to look as your development stages to on where you are in bridging the gap. This will depend on the cardinal role of each of us here today in playing the nurturing role to call for reform to call to action to pursue a major goal through individual or collective efforts.”
Nimba University’s president, Jesse Noah Mongrue, thanked the government for continuing the free tuition policy that former president George Weah first instituted because it has helped to educate hundreds of students at the university.
Mongrue also thanked two U.S.-based organizations for supporting the institution – the United Nimba Citizens Council and the Tappita District Development Association.
He, however, called on the Nimba County Legislative Caucus to use its influence to ensure that the university’s budget is increased to suit its needs.
L-R: Acting Board Chair Paegar and Dr. Mongrue/Photo: Jerry Myers
With six colleges and four non-degree programs, Mongrue said Nimba University faces new challenges yearly. The current allotment of US$1.5 million can only run a community college, not a university.
Rep. Nya G. Flomo of Nimba’s second district, who attended the ceremony, said it was unfair that the university spent over US$1.8 million last year. Yet, it is receiving US$1.5 million this year. He hoped the institution’s budget would be increased in the recast budget.
Meanwhile, the acting chairman of the Board of Trustees of Nimba University, Cllr. Boakai Julius Paegar has expressed disappointment over the low enrollment of students in the mining, geology, forestry, and natural resources management programs.
Paegar encouraged Nimbaians to enroll in programs that will put them in charge of the county’s numerous natural resources.
Featured photo by Jerry T. Myers