| Elevate BWI To College Level -Kolleh |
| Published on October 21, 2009 | Email To Friend Print Version
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The Valedictorian of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) for the 2008/2009 academic year, Mr. Emmanuel Kolleh, is calling on the Government of Liberia to upgrade the standard of the institution to a college level in its drive to mold the minds of the Liberian youths.
Delivering his valedictorian speech on Sunday, October 18, 2009, on the campus of the institution in Kakata, Margibi County, Mr. Kolleh, a sponsored student of the Management of Firestone Liberia, said for a nation to be developed, the mental capacities of the youths have to be built by means of education and other programs that will enhance their productivity. “The youths also play a role in the future growth of any nation”. Student Kolleh asserted.
Speaking on the theme “the role of youth in a developing nation” the dux of the graduating class named two types of youths as “productive and unproductive youths”. According to him, productive youths are those who are instrumental and mentally capable to assist in the growth and development of their nation; one who works and aids in community development programs or projects with the idea of volunteerism.
Mr. Kolleh who is currently a freshman student at Cuttington University in Suacoco, Bong County, and a Firestone scholarship recipient, challenged Liberian youths whom he referred to as future leaders to do their best in their academic sojourn saying “do not be a betrayal of social change, the challenges of this nation await us as we live in the conscious world, where education is the possible survival”. He noted.
The Administration of BWI graduated over two hundred (200) students in various disciplines, including agriculture, automotive, business education, secretarial science, accounting and drafting, among others.
Expressing gratitude for the successful completion of the academic studies of Emmanuel Kolleh at the BWI, his Father, Mr. Justin Kolleh, an employee of the Transport Department of Firestone Liberia, said Firestone has given him the greatest gift in his life by sponsoring his son through high school and onward to Cuttington University.
Earlier, the guest speaker, Mr. Arthur Fumbah, commended the faculty and staff of the Booker Washington Institute for molding the minds of Liberia’s future leaders, the graduates. Mr. Fumbah who is also Deputy Minister of Finance emphasized the importance of education to the students, and called on them to be steadfast in their academic sojourn.
In remarks, the Senior Senator of Margibi County, Clarice Jah, thanked the parents for their unwavering financial and moral support to the students over the past years which have brought them through successfully. She noted that success goes along with hard work and discipline.
She pledged to do everything possible in her weak ways to upgrade BWI to a technical college level.
The program was graced by the presence of an array of Government officials, well wishers, parents and relatives of the graduates.
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