MONROVIA – The State run University of Liberia (UL) has announced that it will hold two major events next week, beginning with a Dialogue conference to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Elysee signed between Germany and France on the January 23, 1963 and on the other hand another event which is the launching of a new first degree granting discipline in Fisheries and Aquaculture under the College of Science and Engineering of the institution.
Briefing the media yesterday, Thursday, 19, 2023 in the conference room on the Main Campus, Capitol Hill, Monrovia, The Vice President of the UL Relations, Mr. Norris Tweah said these events are expected to be well attended by stakeholders in the education sector as they are expected to add value to the quest for knowledge in the country.
Speaking about the Dialogue conference, he said the event is being organized by the University in collaboration with the Embassies of Germany and France who have thought it wise to share their experience of their treaty signed 60 years ago and will definitely impact on the Liberian scenario as the country moves forward to consolidate on the gains of the end of the 14 year civil war.
“We are having a dialogue for the consolidation of peace, security and development in Liberia. This dialogue is organized by the Embassies of France and Germany.
“The purpose of the Peace Dialogue is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Elycee Treaty between Germany and France on January 23, 2023.
“One of the lessons to be learned from the Dialogue, and there are many, is the experience these countries have had over the years which will benefit us as a country in transition to consolidate our democracy as well and certainly we look forward to seeing you”, Tweah said.
On the launching of the studies in Fishery and Aquaculture, Tweah said after several months of planning, research and solicitation of funding, UL will finally be launching the program leading to the award of a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture and to be hosted in the College of Science and Engineering.
The Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Moses Zinnah who provided more insights into the program, said that the launching of the academic discipline at UL is one of the main monumental achievements being recorded in the fisheries sector of the economy that saw the World Bank pumping in more support over the years.
He noted that through the instrumentality of President George Manneh Weah and hard work of the Director General of the the National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), the University was able to attract attention to the fisheries program. He said with the improvement in the management of the sector and the huge potential that exists if the human capacity and manpower aspect was properly tapped into, the World Bank has decided to use part of the $60m grant to fund the introduction of the discipline at UL.
He said he was excited for the ascendency of Madam Emma Metieh Glasco, whom he said had been innovative enough to change the face of the sector and hoped that she continues on the path to further improving the area.
Mr. Alvin Jueseah, who currently serves as the Acting Chairman of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, UL gave a synopsis of the entire program including the academic staff, where he stated that though the department will not be operating at full capacity for now, efforts are being made to modestly rolled over the development process by getting some few lecturers and other professionals in the area while the University embarks upon sending some of their academic staff for further studies and return to upgrade the instructional activities.
Meanwhile, on other matters, Tweah said the recent disturbances which occurred early this week on the campuses of the University in which some students disrupted normal academic activities, was unfortunate and should not have occurred in the first place. He said the incident arose after some of the students who had gone through the provisional student status were demanding their full-fledged student admission letters.
“The disturbances should not have occurred at all because there was no basis for doing so. They are not our bonafide students; they took our entrance examinations and could not pass through the mandatory two subjects and so they have been in the process of completing our standard to be formally admitted. It takes time for these documentations to be completed and they should not be in the position to be demanding. The process is on. As I speak most of them have been issued the permanent admission letters”, he said
He however said though the situation has been brought under control, the University authority has been investigating the situation and anyone found guilty will be seriously penalized according to the law.
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