Remembering a Fallen Hero On His 60th Birth Anniversary -We say Happy Birthday to Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan

MONROVIA: Today, March 20,  is the 60th Birth Anniversary of a statesman, a people oriented and humanitarian, the late Public Works Minister and former Senator of Sinoe County, Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan. Vlah, as others called him affectionately used to celebrate his natal day with cherished memories that gathered his associates from his private and public lives, usually in an elaborate fashion as his contemporaries were congregated to celebrate with him.  But Oh death, why did you take away this productive and loving son of the land so early.

One of the associates of Mobutu who still remembers the profoundness of such celebration of his natal day is former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, an intimate associate to whom Vlah’s memories are so conspicuous.  This proximity of two who reportedly met in officialdom – was shown and made more visible in a eulogy of the former Vice President once delivered at the funeral of the late Public Works Minister when she said they know Mobutu will not be forgotten.

Living truth to such fond memory that “We know Mobutu will not be forgotten because for many of us he continues to live in our memories,” Madam Taylor Madam Jewel Howard Taylor, eulogized to memory of the 60th birth anniversary of the statesman and former legislator and executive official:

“Today, March 20, 2024 would have made our Hero 60 years old. What a vacuum has been created as a result of his untimely passing.

  “Though he is no longer with us, we can never forget the giant of a man he was to our families, our communities and our nation.

“Aye Vlah!

“Happy Birthday, with all our love”.

From Jewel, the Nyenpan and Howard Families

Oh yes, Vlah was in deed a great man. Born on March 20, 1964, Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan was only 56 when he met is demise.  Before his death, he was one of President Weah’s favorite Ministers, serving as Public Works Minister.

The late Minister Nyenpan hailed from Sinoe County from the Sarpo tribe. He came from a town called Grisby Farm in Butaw District a town which has majority of its inhabitants reportedly originated from Voogbadee, Juarzon Statutory District.

Mobutu Nyenpan’s life was indeed contributory to the nation which he served for nine unbroken years as Senior Senator of Sinoe County until 2014 when he lost the post during a midterm senatorial elections. Vlah, as he was affectionately called, worked as Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company during the transitional period of Liberia.

He was an intelligent person with intellectual prowess besides his thirst to contribute to society. Mobutu earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Liberia, and graduated from with LLB Degree from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, after which he also practiced law.

Being an astute public servant, Vlah was a socially popular person around whom many ordinary people gravitated. He had a large following due to his liberal, pragmatic intellectual clout and his humanitarian nature.

The former Public Works Minister was one of the faces of Sinoe County in contemporary Liberia and of the Government of Liberia which he served with utmost passion as Minister of Public Works

His appointment as Public Works Minister by President George Weah in 2018 brought him to revered public prominence, as he proved to be one of the President’s most loyal servants and articulate political appointees. He was a workaholic that President Weah in 2019 announced his most favorite public servant.

Because of his humility and hard work, Vlah, was named Person of the Year, Minister of the Year, and Senator of the Year by several media institutions in the country.

As we reach this date of your birth, we say to you HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mobutu, we love you and still keep your loving memories.