“IT Education Is Very Strategic to Liberia’s Development” -Prof. Wonkeryor Tells Bluecrest Graduates, Students

The Director General of the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) Prof. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, PhD, has underscored the significance of Information Technology in the building process of any nation.  Dr. Wonkeryor intimated that information technology serves as a major stimulant to drive the national development programs, especially for a developing country like Liberia. He then urged the government and other stakeholders to plough in more investment as a viable way of accelerating national development.

Professor Wonkeryor made the assertion over the weekend when he delivered the keynote address at the 2021 convocation program of the Bluecrest University College held at the Dominion Christian fellowship Center in Monrovia.

Speaking on the theme, The Significance of Information Technology Intervention to the Nation Building Process of Liberia, the seasoned education administrator simply referred to IT as the study or use of systems, especially computers and telecommunications that have the capacity to create process, store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data and information through hardware, software or peripheral equipment. According to Dr. Wonkeryor, IT has become an integral part of everyone globally, as individuals, businesses, or organizations, especially in the era that has come to embrace the new world order.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a well-known fact that technology is advancing rapidly in our everyday lives as a nation and people. Most importantly, our educational system has adopted online approaches to the e-learning platform as a complementary means to education. These are just a few interventions in the nation building process of Liberia”, the renowned scholar asserted.

Recognizing the potential of IT to transform and revolutionize the traditional teaching and learning processes, Professor Wonkeryor, who also served formerly as President for the William V. S. Tubman University and the Nimba County University, expressed his excitement over the increase in the momentum for IT education in higher education institutions in the country.  Dr. Wonkeryor therefore urged higher education stakeholders to place high premium on IT programs in the country.

In further appreciation to IT institutions in Liberia, Dr. Wonkeryor emphasized the need for more institutions to join the effort, especially at the higher education level. The NCHE Boss stressed the need for policy makers and education stakeholders to give more support to higher education, especially to those offering IT and the STEM programs.  He added that under his administration at the National Commission for Higher Education (NCHE) emphasis will be made on STEM education because it is an undisputable catalyst for national development in any country, with Liberia being no exception.

In conclusion, Professor Wonkeryor expressed thanks and appreciation to the management of the BlueCrest University College for the invitation extended to him to deliver the keynote address for this year’s Convocation. He then asserted that the occasion afforded him the opportunity to relate the activities of the NCHE to the larger audience. Finally, Dr. Wonkeryor congratulated the graduates and urged them to serve as ambassadors for BlueCrest University College at the various levels of their training. He then closed by challenging the students to make use of their education for the socio-economic development of our beloved Liberia.