MONROVIA, Montserrado – The University of Liberia has begun it 96^th commencement convocations with a call for graduates of the College of Humanities and Social Science (Liberia College) to help build their country using their degrees.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Fendell campus during the graduation of over 400 students, the Executive Director of Youth Action International, Kimmie Weeks, urged the graduates to use the skills acquired at the university to transform their country. “You must begin the transformation from your communities,” Weeks said.

He said Liberia has now become more diverse and provides opportunities for everyone to become what they want to be. Unlike in the past when indigenous citizens suffered discrimination and inequality by “Americo-Liberians” and “Congos,” Liberian society now has a place for all.

He encouraged citizens to seek higher education, noting that there was no more a class system that prevents people from being educated.

“Gone are the days when certain people used to determine who goes where and who does what,” he said. “Now everyone has the freedom to determine what they want to become, depending on their aspirations.”

During the commencement, the valedictorian of Liberia College, Jugbeh Kpeh, stressed the importance for more attention to be given to tertiary education in the country.

Kpeh said, as a country coming from war, tertiary education is critical to infrastructure growth and development.

She said training more young people will enhance speedy development and economic recovery.

Meanwhile, the commencement continued with the William V.S. Tubman Teachers College with 93 candidates and the Thomas J.R. Faulkner College of Science and Technology with 189 candidates on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

The William R. Tolbert Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry will also graduate 239 candidates on Friday, December 11, followed by a grand celebration by the faculty of the university for a successful academic year.

The university’s commencement will then resume on Monday, December 14 with 1,127 candidates earning degrees from the Business College followed by a special Lux in Tenebris Scholars program on Tuesday, December 15 at the Capitol Hill campus.

On Wednesday, December 16, three professional and six graduate programs will hold commencement ceremonies. 383 candidates will earn professional and graduate degrees from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, the School of Pharmacy, Masters Program in Business and Public Administrations, Ibrahim Babangida Graduate School of International Relations, Regional planning, Kofi Anan Institute for Conflict Transformation and the Graduate program in Education Administration.

According to the calendar of events, the University of Liberia Students Association’s traditional day program will take place on December Saturday, December 19.

This is the first time the university commencement is college-based.

Featured photo by Together Liberia/Cameron Zohoori