AML’s Selma Graduates with Honors -Company Heaps Praises, Vows to Empower Liberians

MONROVIA – Jallah S. Selma, General Manager for Mines at ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), has graduated with honors from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Ghana, earning a degree in Mining and Mineral Engineering. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Selma’s career, reflecting his dedication and passion for the mining sector.

The company has extended warm congratulations to its General Manager for Mines, describing Selma’s achievement as an extraordinary milestone that reflects not only his personal dedication but also AML’s long-standing commitment to empowering Liberian professionals to ascend to senior leadership roles within the organization.

In its congratulatory message, AML stated: “Congratulations to our own General Manager for Mines, Jallah Selmah, who has graduated with Honors from the University of Mines and Technology, Ghana, earning a degree in Mining and Mineral Engineering! This remarkable academic achievement crowns Jallah’s many years of dedication, hard work, and passion for professional growth in the mining sector. His unwavering commitment to excellence has not only shaped his own career but has also set a powerful example for aspiring Liberian mining professionals. Jallah’s success is a shining reminder of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s commitment to investing in and elevating Liberians into key leadership roles across its operations.”

Jallah Selma’s academic accomplishment adds a new chapter to his compelling professional journey, one that began long before he became the first Liberian to serve as General Manager for Mines at ArcelorMittal Liberia.

Before joining AML, Selma worked on the rehabilitation of the Yekepa–Buchanan railway as a Superintendent for Road Bridges and Culverts with the Odebrecht Construction International project, supporting earthworks and infrastructure critical to the company’s mining logistics. His solid technical background, rooted in civil works, engineering support, and supervision, laid the foundation for what would later become a defining mining career.

Selma joined ArcelorMittal Liberia in 2009, starting at the operational level in mining pits, loading areas, and later in the control room. His early experience working directly with mining teams and heavy-equipment operations enabled him to build a ground-up understanding of AML’s mining ecosystem.

His performance led to a series of promotions, including Mine Infrastructure Superintendent, Assistant Mine Manager, and Acting Mine Manager. In 2011, he was named Employee of the Year. Over the years, he has earned more than 15 merit awards for excellence, leadership, and innovation.

His appointment as General Manager for Mines in January 2025 was widely celebrated across AML and Liberia, seen as evidence of the company’s evolving strategy to place more Liberians in major technical and managerial positions.

Selma’s graduation with honors is being viewed as a major inspiration for aspiring mining engineers across the country.

Industry observers say his story reflects the broader narrative of Liberian capacity development within international concession companies—an area where AML has increasingly invested through scholarships, training programs, and leadership development.

As AML advances its Phase II expansion, including the new concentrator plant, increased ore processing capacity, and wider mining operations across Nimba County, Selma’s expanded academic credentials are expected to play a central role in technical leadership, operational efficiency, and environmental compliance.

Colleagues describe Selma as disciplined, ambitious, and committed to mentoring young Liberians entering the mining profession. His academic accomplishment, combined with his real-world leadership experience, positions him as one of the most influential Liberian mining professionals of his generation.

ArcelorMittal Liberia concluded its message by reaffirming its pride: “Congratulations, Jallah! Your journey inspires us all.”