By Precious D Freeman
The newly elected president of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University (AMEZU), Emmanuel Farecca Johnson, vows to rebrand the university and make it second to none in the country.
He said the reform will affect the administration, finance, academic and infrastructures of the university.
Dr. Johnson made the disclosure when the university was turned over to him by the interim management team.
The program was held at the edifice of the Brown Memorial Zion Church on Benson Street, Monrovia recently.
The turning over ceremony took place following the death of the university’s interim president, Benjamin D. Lartey, who died on April 30, 2023 following a brief illness.
According to the contract agreement signed by the board of trustees of the university, the new president will serve for a five years tenure and could be retained or replace by the board.
Johnson, who is the third president since its founding, observed that the university has endured challenging moments in its recent history noting and it is now time for the institution move forward.
Formerly, he served as Bishop’s deputy and dean of the Divinity College of AMEZU prior to his election.
The new president reminded the faculty and staff of the university that the rebranding process will be felt by everyone.
“What is going to happen is that we will put round pets in round holes and square pets in square holes administratively and make sure that everything is done properly because I will not sit in my office and allow things to spoil,” he said.
The new AMEZU president urged those who may not be able to withstand the reform to pack their bags and leave noting, “I will not sit and allow the university to fall.”
He said the academic rebranding will include curriculum review geared towards modernizing the university’s academic programs in order to make the university more attractive and marketable; overhaul the entire system and ensure that teachers are well placed and taken care of while demanding performance and accountability.
“We are also going to rebrand our financial system that will ensure resource mobilization and accountability,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the head of the transitional team and chair of the academic committee of the Board of Trustees of AMEZU, Dr. Nathaniel Walker underscored the need for change at the university.
Walker noted that his team noticed lots of anomalies at the university, adding “The new president, being so close to the university, will in no doubt effect the necessary changes.”
He expressed explicit confidence in the leadership capability of Dr. Johnson to reform the university saying “Johnson is the one that can take this university forward.”
For his part, AMEZU’s associate vice president for extension program Dr. Henrique Marcus Speare underscored the need for reform and unity as the university embarks on a new beginning. Speare thanked Dr. Johnson for his preferment and urged him to stand firm on his plans to rebrand the university.
Also making remarks was AMEZU faculty association president James Naplakposo Fallah who advised the new president to be mindful of the bad apples within the system.
In separate remarks, AMEZU alumni association president J. Deami Stewart and president emeritus Christopher Peters pledged their support to working with the new administration to ensure that the university moves forward. The two alumni, however, vowed to fight back if the administration fails to effect the necessary reforms for the betterment of the university.
