Liberia: FABRAR Liberia Incorporated CEO 'Madam Jeanine Cooper' Delivers William R. Tolbert College of Agriculture & Forestry Commencement Speech

Keynote Speaker Madam Jeanine Cooper.



The founder and senior managing partner of FABRAR Liberia Incorporated, Madam Jeanine Cooper, has extolled graduates of the William R. Tolbert College of Agriculture & Forestry at the  University of Liberia (UL) to keep in mind that society will look up to them for not just food production but as anchors of Liberia’s development.
The managing partner of the agriculture company said graduates can help end food insecurity in Liberia by doing something as simple as “planting at least a seed every year.”
Madam Cooper admonished the graduates to be creative and make use of existing resources in order to contribute to food production and the preservation of the Liberian forest.
“You are the lucky generation that starts your career with technology literally at your fingertips. With your cell phone, you are part of the 81 % Liberians who have such access; part of the 75% of Liberians who can access the Internet,” she said. “You have the knowledge, the resources and technology are here to help you. Make a new product at least once a year,” she said.
Madam Cooper said the graduates should see the proliferation of new products on the Liberian market as an opportunity to demonstrate their value as technicians in the areas of agriculture and forest, noting, “There are many opportunities in food production, preservation and forest management that young Liberians can take advantage of to improve their learning skills.”
She believes there are a lot of technological advances in the 21^st Century that agriculture and forest technicians can hinge on to reduce the food insecurity in Liberia and keep the country green, emphasizing that “Liberians are creative people who could use social media such as Facebook to launch successful businesses.”
“Class of 2018, instead if listing to all the different juicy stories of how bad things are, think about the opportunities that you have because you are the greatest generation of Liberians,” said Ms. Cooper to a thunderous applause. “Liberians have never let challenges define them. If you don’t believe me, think back a few years, when you were just beginning your university journey, Madam Cooper said.”
She said the graduates should be encouraged by the demand for agricultural products on the urban markets in Liberia and get involved with the production of goods and services in the areas of agriculture and forestry.
The College awarded undergraduate degrees to 458 students, including 315 in General Agriculture, 93 in General Forestry, 43 in Agronomy and seven in Home Science and Community Development.
The valedictorian, Spencer Keifa Kamara, called for a robust improvement in the quality of education at all levels in Liberia.
Kamara underscored the importance of improving the faculty at the University of Liberia if the University is to achieve its dream to be among the top twenty universities in West Africa in 7 years.
He charged the university to stick to and perfect its educational policies and create a good learning atmosphere by embracing research and development and opening a central research lab at its Fendall Campus, adding, “the need for more faculties with PhDs and improved salary are cardinal.”
Dr. Moses Zinnah, Dean of the Collenge, who convened the convocation, narrated several accomplishments the college achieved over the last year.
He thanked authorities at the Ministry of Agriculture and the African Development Bank for constructing a modern academic complex, recognized the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for providing internship opportunities in food safety and quality control at its National Standard Laboratories for students in the Department of Home Science and Community Development,
Dr. Zinnah lauded the Regional Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture for providing eight Graduate Teaching Assistance fellowships for faculty members in the College of Agriculture & Forestry to pursue their Phd degrees in various agricultural disciplines in selected highly rated African universities
He also expressed hope for the UL to start graduate programs in Agronomy, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Agricultural and Extension Education, Animal Science and Agriculture Engineering by 2021.
Dr. Ophelia Inez Weeks, President of the UL, described the College as “The Bread Basket College” and called on graduates to provide food for Liberians, protect the country’s forest, and prevent climate change.
“Our country is blessed with water, sunshine, and land,” Dr. Weeks said in her routine greetings to graduates and guests at the ceremony. “Make use of these resources and feed every Liberian and keep our country green,” she said.
The College was opened at the University in 1962 and has since been making a significant impact in producing technicians in the fields of Agriculture and Forestry.