Liberia’s Woes Require No 40-Day Fast & Prayer -Liberian Scientist Recommends Patriotism, Critical Thinking

Their country, which is Africa’s oldest republic and a founding member of the world’s iconic organizations, still lying at the bare bottom of the Human Development Index, some Liberians are tempted to suspect ancestral curse and are therefore calling for providential solutions—like a dry fast and prayer for months so that God’s manna would fall from Heaven and the country becomes a paradise. But, is that how developed nations’ transformational miracles took place? Is it how little-known Rwanda, which has distinguished itself in the last two decades for being a fast-growing developing country has done it? A respected scientist of Liberian-progressive upbringing thinks otherwise, as THE ANALYST reports.

Development experts say snail is very fast than Liberia’s development pace, and many wonder if God is angry with the country and its people.

From regime to another in 177 years, it has all turned out to be fiasco and poverty, misery and despondency having their toll.

While others think the solution lies in fast and prayers, perhaps so that God will create a new Liberia like he did with Biblical Eden and the world, by speaking them into existence, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan thinks the solution lies in the hands Liberian themselves.

Nyan, a former student leader and veteran of the Liberian people’s struggle “for rice and rights” lectured a large audience of graduates, faculty members and families of graduates when he spoke at the 104th Combined Commencement of the University of Liberia.

Colleges involved at the colorful ceremonies were the J.J.R. Faulkner College of Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Forestry, College of Engineering, and the David A. Straz-Sinje Vocational and Technical College.

Instead of anticipating a providential mystery to change Liberia’s backward situation as many are doing and thinking, the Executive Director of the National Pubic Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), said “our approach to addressing our country’s problems requires us to think deeper and critically, to look into our hearts, refined our attitudes and behaviors, and work with patriotism, honesty, integrity and respect for others.”

Emphasizing the Liberian development quagmire, he reflected on a story about a once-brilliant engineer, whom the people looked up to help build quality roads, but let the country down as he connived with other scoundrels and built substandard roads with donor aids, wasting millions of US dollars, and perpetuating the circle of corruption.”

“What this brilliant engineer failed to realize is that, with education, comes great responsibility — a responsibility owed not to oneself, but to our communities, our country, and the world at large; that responsibility of honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect,” he stressed.

Nyan, an alumnus of the University of Liberia, warned the graduates not to be like the engineer in the story.

“Don’t fall prey to temptations of corruption and unaccountability,” he said. “You have gained knowledge; knowledge, you know, is power and that power must be humanized – defining it as the human side of education.

“That means, the degree you hold is not just a testament to your hard work, but a call to national service and an obligation to act in the best interest of society, and to improve human lives. I am letting you know these things so that you do not repeat some of the past and present generation’s mistakes.”

He lamented that Liberia has suffered too much and too long, and the country is continuously bleeding as a result.

He continued: “Yes, we have fought colonialism, we have fought the exploitations of multinational companies, we have fought human rights abuses. So, no one is entertaining the exploitation of our countries any more.

“Our generations fought for democracy, ensured that you can make a free choice for the leaders you want to vote for, and your desire to think and speak freely within the confines of the law. Our generations created the path to science innovation. So, when you leave these walls, it will be the obligation of your generation to tackle some other issues that my generation could only have imagined; navigate the complexities of a world that is now more interconnected than ever before, but also more divided; a world that is more advanced, yet somewhat confused and more fragile.”

The renowned Liberian public health czar further reminded the graduates they have “opportunities my generation never had, that ability to utilize cutting-edge technology to harness the power of nature and the environment to find solutions to problems for the benefit of Liberia, Africa and global humanity”.

“This is your mission which according to Comrade Frantz Fanon, you must fulfil or betray,” he noted.

Dr. Nyan added: “If you take a closer look, our problems have nothing to do with so called ‘ancestral generational curses’ that some churches always ‘prophesize.’ Our problems require no 40 days of fast-and-prayers to bind the spirits.”

He disagreed with some Liberians who, he said, “fight so hard to blame the Americans for Liberia’s underdevelopment,” quipping: “Do you know how much USAID have spent in Liberia over the years? For example, during the past national government administration in 2023, USAID gave Liberia a funding of an estimated $850,000 to upgrade medical facilities in Margibi County, but corrupt officials used the money for themselves, while the people suffer? So, will you blame America for the poor health of Liberians in Margibi?”

“So, as you leave the University of Liberia,” he cautioned the graduates, “I want you to know that your success will not be measured by professional achievements alone, but by the integrity with which you conduct yourselves and professional duties.”

Liberia, the opined, is hungrily in need of professionals who are guided by ethics, compassion, and a commitment to the common good of the people.

“The Liberia you seek and discuss daily is only possible when you use your education for the good of the people and not to exploit them,” he continued. “The lives of millions of Liberians will depend on the decisions you will make in both the private and public sectors. So, when you leave here, become critical thinkers, become problem-solvers, provide solution to our complex problems, be the change-makers that Liberia desperately needs. Your contributions will matter.”

The NPHIL chief warned the graduate against joining what he called “the bandwagon and neglect the human side of education for personal gains, thus perpetuating the cycle of underdevelopment and poverty.

“If you do, then the Liberia we all seek will not be possible,” he asserted. See full of Dr. Nyan’s speech on page 6 of this edition.