Some 22 candidates of the 2023 scholarship recipients and at least 25 individuals of a short-term training program for journalists, are expected to depart the country shortly for China.
Deputy Education Minister for Administration, Latim Dathong, told recipients that Liberia’s greatest resource is the people and not oil, diamonds, gold, or anything else, asserting that the challenges that the country faces would require competence, intelligence, experience, and professionals to help transform this nation.
“We, as a generation, have a responsibility to this country, a responsibility to leave behind a Liberia that is far from what we inherited. That is the call of our generation and the challenge of our time,” Dathong told the recipients.
Dathong used the occasion to thank their friends and partners, especially the Government of China, for helping to develop what they believe is the best and greatest resource, thereby urging the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors for their families and most importantly, for Liberia.
Meanwhile, following a pre-departure ceremony on Friday, July 28, at its Embassy in Congo Town, attended by some government officials, beneficiaries of Chinese Government scholarships, the Liberian Association of Chinese Trained Scholars, representatives of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia, as well as staff of the embassy, among others, the Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Liberia, congratulated all candidates of this year’s Chinese Government Scholarship and 25 trainees of the media short-term training program.
Amb. Fan Erwei recalled that in 2013, President Xi Jinping put forth the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, good faith, pursuing the greater good, and sharing interest in China’s relationship with Africa, stressing, “It was no secret that the recipients who are all from different departments and different backgrounds have gone through a regular selection process to finally be able to gain this friendship opportunity to go to study in China.”
The Chinese Charge d’Affaires emphasized that over the past decades, the Government of China has been practicing this principle, and China-Liberia relations have had great achievements, with the joint guidance and commitment of both Chinese and Liberian leaders.
Erwei asserted that the Chinese Government Scholarship and other training programs are a concrete manifestation of the friendship between China and Liberia, as well as a concrete action of China’s sincere assistance to the economy and social development of Liberia.
He then vowed that China will continue to support human resource cooperation between the two countries, through various means.
He expressed the hope that the students will make the best use of the opportunity to study in China and be able to learn the Chinese language by gaining an in-depth knowledge of the Chinese culture, and experiencing the historical development and achievements China has made.
Erwei claimed that in recent years, the Chinese government has unveiled and provided about 50 full scholarships to the Liberian government every year and about 200 short- and long-term training opportunities, some of which include masters and doctorate degrees.
“Also, our embassy provides the Ambassador Scholarship to more than one hundred students of excellence from the University of Liberia, Tubman University, and Cuttington University every year, which has helped the full training of human capacity development in Liberia,” he continued.
The Deputy Minister of State without Portfolio, Trokon A. Kpui, told the beneficiaries that their selection for the scholarship is not a mistake, but rather, a testimony of their unwavering commitment to academic excellence and potential to contribute significantly to society.
He cautioned the esteemed scholarship recipients that their intellectual capacity must be used with compassion and resilience for the uplifting and development of Liberia, adding, “Education, as we all know, has the power to transcend borders, bridge cultures, and create a broader interconnected future for humanity.”
“So, as you embark on this educational journey into China, I encourage you to embrace the opportunity for personal growth and cultural exchange, engage with your peers, and immerse yourself in the rich history and tradition of China, forging friendships that will last a lifetime,” he further noted.
Kpui reminded the recipients that the Chinese Government Scholarship comes with great responsibility, and as future leaders, they have the power to shift the world at large, pointing out, “Let this scholarship be a reminder of the trust placed in you to make a difference, not only in your community but in Liberia and the world at large.”
