Skip to main content

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 21st 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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

President George Weah's One Day National Forum Successfully Attended by 26 Political Parties

On Thursday, August 8, 2018, President George Weah had a sit down with 26 political parties of Liberia.  The meeting aimed at advancing ideals that promote the spirit of national unity and political tolerance between opposition political parties and the government.  ANC, LP and UP attended the meeting as a team. According to Deputy Minister Eugene L. Fahngon, Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs at Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, all 26 political parties attended and participated from start to finish.  Even though, social media was buzzing about AB Dillion walking out of the meeting, he walked out as an individual and not a political party, "the invitation was extended to political parties and not to individuals," Minister Fahngon stated in his live video.  Each political party gave ideals and recommendations, which made the meeting a great success.  According to  Deputy Minister Fahngon, "there will be future engagements as such.&quo

What President Trump and Kim Jong Un Ate

The historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued midday Tuesday, as the leaders satisfied their appetites while holding negotiations with a contingent of advisers over a working lunch. The lunch, which followed a 45-minute one-on-one meeting between the leaders earlier in the morning and bilateral discussion with senior aides, was held at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island. It was far from an intimate affair, with each leader accompanied by a bevy of senior staff, according to the White House. Joining Trump were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chief of Staff John Kelly, National Security Advisor John Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Deputy Assistant to the President for Asian Affairs Matthew Pottinger. Kim was accompanied by Kim Yong Chol , the former spy chief and one of North Korea’s chief negotiators, as well as Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, former

Liberia: Kpanto Entertains Small Crowd at Australia Concert

Kpanto's Australia tour's first night in Perth on April 1st was a tour in terms of attendance, but the artist still managed to put up a fantastic show in spite of the low crowd. Despite Kpanto's tremendous popularity, the attendance was unsatisfactorily low. A video that was just found online shows that there were between 25 and 65 people present. According to the promoter who planned the event, the actual number was 210. Despite all, the musician provided a standout performance.