The Chairman of the Margibi County Legislative Caucus, Representative Ivar Jones, has urged the 2023-2024 graduating class of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) to develop a culture of discovering who they are; being able to innovate and to also inspire others.
He reminded them that the larger society is embroiled with huge challenges so they need to remain focused on achieving a specific goal when it comes to transforming challenges into opportunities.
Delivering the 73rd Commencement Oration of the institute over the weekend in Kakata, Margibi County, the orator added that innovation is a perfect panacea to overcoming challenges.
He then encouraged the graduands to diligently apply the Academic, Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) Skills that they have acquired for the benefits of the society including themselves.
The 73rd Commencement Speaker indicated that employment opportunity is very scare in the country as such, they could start doing something now through self-initiatives.
“You can open a small Technician, Mechanic, Carpenter as well as Electrical Shops including an agricultural garden, amongst others businesses, he advised them.
According to him, those ventures can be realized by either forming a partnership or engaging in sole proprietorship.
He further told the enthusiastic outgoing class to always engage in meaningful activities that will inspire others based their achieved successful outcomes.
“After I graduated from the William V.S. Tubman High School in Sinkor, my quest to seeking employment didn’t materialize. So I invested US$50 into scratch card business in 2003 and due to my commitment to the business, it later transformed to the Favor Marketing Incorporated which is presently an authorized Orange and Lone Star scratch card distributor in the country,” he pointed out.
The Margibi County District 2 Representative then offered scholarship to thirty members of the graduating class to enroll at the Orange Digital Foundation School and also promised to give two pieces of 65″ LRC flat screen TV along with two pieces of DSTV compact disc to the school.
The first female Principal of BWI, since its establishment in 1929, Dr. Nancy T. Freeman informed the audience that 224 candidates from the regular four year Secondary Vocational Training Program, including 214 candidates from the two year Post- Secondary Professionals Program, as well as five candidates from the short- term six months of the Domestic Science Department have successfully completed the requirements as per the curriculum of the Ministry of Education and were therefore cleared graduation.
She further reported that upon her ascendancy as the principal of school more than seven months ago, the administration has been providing clean learning environment as well as decent meals for the students in line with her promise to making the school a students’ centered institution.
According to her, they have also renovated four dormitories and placed a 65″ flat screen Television in one of them terming the process making the school home away from home stating that the government is presently renovating the remaining dormitories.
Dr. Freeman then averred that the teachers are well structured and they are teaching everyday though she added that some of them have been complaining about her monitoring mechanism but she stressed that is necessary.
The Executive Officer pointed out that the 2023-2024 Academic Year was successful as students’ demeanour were perfect and that the administration also experienced cordial working relationship among the entire BWI Family.
“BWI is indeed on the right trajectory in every aspect; the ongoing semester is our own because the previous one was divided between my administration and former Principal Harris Fomba Tarnue,” she explained.
She however commended President Joseph Boakaiās Administration, including the faithful development partners, the Board of Governors, as well as the Alumni Association for their unflinching support to the institution.
The Chairman of the BWI Board of Governors, Isaac B. Stevens, admonished the graduates to embrace life-long learning as the world is evolving, saying that the skills they have acquired is foundational and they should therefore set ambitious goals.
He also challenged them to use their knowledge and talents to make a difference in the life of others and build a better future for all.
Mr. Stevens then recognized Dr. Freeman whose leadership, he stressed, has significantly influenced the direction of the school in a relatively short period of time, promising the Board’s fullest support to the administration.
On behalf of the Board of Governors, he lauded the Government of Liberia, including development partners whom he described as dedicated for their unwavering support to the institution.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Education for Administration, Nyekeh Forkpa, commended the administration on behalf of Dr. Jarso Jallah, Minister of Education for the job well done, adding that the institute is the oldest school that has been providing Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) over the years in the country.
He said Dr. Jallah has identified nine priority areas and TVET Education is key as it relates to human development so there is a need for stronger interaction and collaboration between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and BWI.
