Post and Telecommunications Minister Jeremiah Solunteh said there was no gainsaying that Liberia was facing a serious drought of technocrats who should work to enlighten the minds of young Liberians to take over the country.

According to him, in the face of the technological revolution prevailing in the world community and competition amongst nations, Liberia needed to work harder and equip itself not only to succeed, but also to surpass its competitors.

He made the statement during the 11th commencement program of the Stella Maris Polytechnic Collage at the Unity Conference Center in Virginia, the outskirt of Monrovia, where he served as keynote speaker.

This, he noted, required what he called ‘refined minds’ and the knowledge that can catapult a long backward country like Liberia on par with the fast -advancing nations of the world.

“There is no better way our country and all of us can run fast in the race of modern development of science and technology than by ensuring quality education for all,” he indicated.

412 students graduated in various courses including civil engineering, basic nursing, medical laboratory and social work. Other disciplines were accountancy in business administration, management, education, among others.

The Poster Affairs boss spoke on the Theme: “The transformation power of society and state; nurturing the next generation of Liberian leaders.”

According to Minister Solunteh, long years of bad governance, coupled with several decades of economic and political underdevelopment and marginalization, were among factors which triggered the conflict. He added that there is a challenge as a nation and people to direct energies and resources to bridge and recover the vital period of national existence that “the locusts have eaten”.

Indeed, Minister Solunteh noted, the country has graduated from war, from a period of emergency to a period of reconstruction and development. And, he added, it was incumbent upon the government, society and people to transform the nation for future generations.

“The transformation of our country means that we must first break from the past. We must renew our strengths, capacities our patriotism and our nationalism,” The Poster Affairs boss emphasized.

The next generation of Liberian leaders, according to him, must be agents of change.

This generation, he underscored, must includes future leaders that are able to analyze, understand and interpret the critical demands and moments in the nation’s history. And, at the same time, he said, must be able to accelerate the process of change for the future of Liberia. “We must change the way we walk, the way we  live, the way we  make decision and the way we perceive the future of our Country, “he advised the audience.

Minister Solunteh, however, stressed that to break away from the past does not suggest in any way that everything in the past was wrong. But, he indicated, the country can learn from some of the mistakes of the past which are part of the current challenges.

“Together the society and the state can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and development,” he promised.

The Guest Speaker, however, advised the graduates to remember that the society and the state depend on them to be agents for the transformation of Liberia. “The change we asked of you today is not necessarily the old aged call for a change of leadership in our country. That change will come by itself as time goes on. What you need to be changed is your values as a people,” he concluded.