The NEWS (Monrovia)
Jimmey C. Fahngon
22 February 2008
Monrovia — The First Lady of the United States of America Laura Bush has urged the youth of Liberia to acquire education which she described as the bedrock of a successful nation.
She said the future of Liberia depends on the youth, and as such, it was important for them to acquire education in order to prepare for the task ahead.
Mrs. Bush spoke Thursday at a roundtable meeting on education for the youth of Liberia with the wife of Vice President Joseph Boakai, Mrs. Katumu Boakai. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The U.S. first lady encouraged Liberian women to also pursue education in order to compete with their male counterparts.
Mrs. Bush said if women are going to do the jobs men can do, they need to be educated.
"I urge you to seek training that would make you productive citizens for your country thereby contributing towards the growth and development of your nation," Mrs. Bush told the women.
She called on parents to ensure that they educate their children whom, she said, were the foundation and future of Liberia.
At the same time, Mrs. Bush said America would stand with Liberia in its reconstruction drive, noting that she was happy to see Liberia gradually progressing as compared to the time she visited the country for the inauguration of President Johnson-Sirleaf in January 2006.
She called on Liberians to work together to rebuild their country adding, "You have the chance to build peace and your country."
For her part, Mrs. Katumu Boakai lauded Mrs. Bush for participating in the roundtable discussion on youth education.
She said government was determined to ensure that every child becomes what he or she wants to be through education.
Mrs. Boakai acknowledged that the rebuilding of Liberia depends on Liberians themselves.
She said it was important for every Liberian citizen to acquire the necessary skills to help in the process.
During the roundtable meeting, some Liberians narrated their experiences during the country's civil war.
Ms. Esther Davies, a former combatant said having fought during the war, she was eager to acquire education to become a resource person.
She called on her colleagues and youth of Liberia to also seek education so that they would not be misled by bad individuals.
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Right, all the good intentions for education., we know this ...like in the past. Then, after 25 years , when the Indigenous Elite has increased in size, it is the time for a NEW Civil War to get rid of it. The History proved that in no way the Americo -Liberian Elite is willing to share the power... only by some miracle of God ...&&&
Right, all the good intentions for education., we know this ...like in the past. Then, after 25 years , when the Indigenous Elite has increased in size, it is the time for a NEW Civil War to get rid of it. The History proved that in no way the Americo -Liberian Elite is willing to share the power... only by some miracle of God ...&&&
Right, all the good intentions for education., we know this ...like in the past. Then, after 25 years , when the Indigenous Elite has increased in size, it is the time for a NEW Civil War to get rid of it. The History proved that in no way the Americo -Liberian Elite is willing to share the power... only by some miracle of God ...&&&
The first lady is absolute right that our success to better living in Liberia is education. I understand that young Liberians want to participate in politics, which is right; nevertheless, you must learn the basics of politics, which comes through education. I was born and raised in one of the best educational systems in Africa, which happens to be in Liberia, and I'm proud to tell people whereever I travel in the world.
My mother unfortunately did not earn a formal education, but she encouraged and beat the hell out of me to learn because she knew the value of education and how it would have benefited me. My success does not come from riches, but from the education that I've earned over the years. The Western world respects me for what I know not for who I am; therefore, I urge all yound Liberians at home and abroad to pay attention to their teachers and suspend politics until they understand the pros and cons of politics.
I said this to friends in 1983 at a party in Newark and I will say it again: "Liberain women need to seek some form of education to compete with their peers and Liberian men." Believe me or not, your success to the future is education. People tell me that I have an accent and they also say that I speak well. It all comes from what I learned in Liberia. Hopefully Ms. Bush statement will motivate our young people to divert their attention to education.
Lawrence Totimeh