Education Minister Calls For A Generation Of Nation Builders

In a jubilant and inspirational ceremony, Cuttington University marked a historic milestone on Saturday, June 21, as 707 students graduated across its three campuses, with a powerful charge from Liberia’s Education Minister, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, urging the fresh graduates to become the architects of the change Liberia so desperately needs.

The event, held in Suakoko, Bong County, was Cuttington’s 63rd Commencement Ceremony, and featured proud families, distinguished guests, and an atmosphere brimming with optimism and ambition.

The largest cohort of graduates came from the undergraduate school in Suakoko, where 254 students earned degrees across key disciplines that reflect the nation’s developmental needs.

Of that number, 15 students graduated in Agriculture and Sustainable Development, 42 in Business and Public Administration, and 93 in Health Sciences, highlighting the university’s contribution to workforce development in critical sectors.

The Kakata Junior College produced 46 graduates, while 64 students from the School of Professional Studies in Monrovia earned Postgraduate Diplomas in Education and Epidemiology.

The Graduate School in Monrovia also made headlines, graduating an impressive 343 students, with 140 specializing in Business and Public Administration, demonstrating the growing demand for skilled professionals in both the private and public sectors of Liberia.

Delivering the keynote commencement address, Dr. Jallah challenged the graduates to become active participants in Liberia’s transformation.

“You must be the change this nation longs for,” she declared, calling on them to support better governance, enhance administrative systems, and drive the kind of reform needed to propel Liberia forward. She pressed the graduates to pursue entrepreneurship and warned against waiting for perfect conditions.

“Start small, add value to your surroundings, and become the problem-solvers our communities need,” she encouraged.

She emphasized that their education was not an endpoint but a powerful tool for lifelong learning and strategic growth

Throughout her moving speech, Dr. Jallah stressed excellence, integrity, and service as the enduring hallmarks of a Cuttington education.

“Upholding these principles not only honors your institution it uplifts your country,” she noted, urging them to walk with discipline and purpose in all their endeavors.

She further warned against succumbing to the obstacles that lie ahead. “Don’t let setbacks shake your vision. Instead, rise with courage, act with wisdom, and give back generously to your communities,” she said.

Drawing a distinction between knowledge and wisdom, she emphasized that wise leadership, not just intelligence, is what Liberia urgently needs.

In her address to the graduates, University President Dr. Romelle A. Horton proudly affirmed the university’s vision: “To light, grow, and develop.”

She reminded the graduates of the moral and academic foundation Cuttington has provided, and urged them to carry those values into the world as Liberia’s next generation of change-makers.

Dr. Horton commended the hard work of students and faculty, saying, “This ceremony is not just a celebration of what you’ve achieved, but a call to what you’re destined to become. Go and make a difference, because Liberia is counting on you.”

The grand occasion was witnessed by an array of past and present government officials, alumni, sponsors, parents, guidance counselors, and community leaders, all of whom beamed with pride and admiration for the graduating class.

The tassels turned and the degrees were conferred, a wave of hope swept through the crowd. These 707 new graduates now stand at the edge of limitless opportunity armed with the knowledge, discipline, and passion needed to ignite change in Liberia.