Officer and members of
Quardu-Gboni Mandingo
Association,
Distinguished guests,
ladies and gentlemen:
It is an honor to join
you today to speak to
you about one of the
most significant
subjects of our time
“The Important of Higher
Education” for Quardu-Gboni
District. I am proud to
have been born and
raised in this District.
During my visit to
Liberia in April 2008, I
met with a high-ranking
official of the Ministry
of Education. During my
discussion with this
official I briefly
mentioned that I was
interested in
establishing a post
secondary educational
program in my native
County of Lofa to
promote science and
math. The first question
the official asked was:
are you serious? You are
the first person of the
Mandingo ethnic group
from the US to come here
with the interest in
establishing higher
educational opportunity
with such passion. I was
further told that mostly
the Mandingo people
returning home from the
USA are primarily
interested in
establishing businesses
such gas station, car
dealership,
import/export, etc.
At first, I thought it
was offensive, but the
more I think about it,
the more I consider it
as a challenge for us
the Mandingos if we are
to continue to progress
in the long run. We
cannot take the back
seats when it comes to
education, particularly
‘Higher Education’ in
the post war-Liberia.
So, what is higher
education?
In the Western World,
higher education is
provided by
universities, colleges,
and other institutions
that award academic
degrees. They include
both the undergraduate
(i.e., college) and the
graduate (or
postgraduate) levels.
Other forms of higher
education consist of
most educational
institutions that have
strong vocational or
professional
characteristics. Still,
there are other forms of
higher education that
differ from all of the
above. In other words,
their possessors do not
necessarily attend big
institutions you and I
would have in mind today
because they are guided
by wisdom and higher
purposes. Nonetheless,
these individuals affect
lives just the same way
or even greater.
Historical Context
Looking back into our
history, one will find
that the people of
Quardo-Gboni District
have always been
involved in higher
education and they
utilized it to make
outstanding
contributions to our
region and to Liberia as
a whole.
Take for example,
Alhaji Ansumana Dukuly
of Barkedu, who used
his vast knowledge and
wisdom of the Quran to
resist the domination of
the WAHABIAH brand of
Islam and won across the
West African region. How
about Alhaji Vamuyah
Sheriff (he just
pasted away on August
10, 2008) a native of
Quardo-Gboni, who
traveled to Egypt in the
sixties, and later
return home and
established English and
Islamic school in
Kolahun. His works
attracted tens of
scholarships from the
Arabian countries that
benefited many of the
youth of the District
including my-self.
On the other hands, when
we reflect on the
life of Dr.
Edward B. Kesselly of
Yama-Kamadu, we’ll
discover many
significant
accomplishments he made
to our beloved country
of Liberia. He held
several ministerial
positions that included
Ministry of Defense,
Local Government, etc.
Dr. Kesselly went
further to do something
no other Mandingo had
done before his time; he
founded Unity Party,
which is now the ruling
party in the Republic of
Liberia. Another example
is Alhaji G.V. Kromah
of Tusu, who used
his education and
intelligent to become
the first Minister of
Information from the
Mandingo tribe in the
history of Liberia. He
later led a resistant
force that liberated the
Mandingos and Liberian
people from the terrors
of Charles Taylor.
Furthermore, many years
ago when QGMA was
founded (formerly
Federation of Quardu-Gboni)
in Liberia by a group of
students included Mr.
Umar Dolley, Moivabah
Fofana, Anthony
Kesselley, just to name
a few. Among their core
accomplishments are the
followings:
-
encouraged the youth
of Quardo-Gboni to
acquire at least
high school
education
-
encouraged the
parents of
Quardo-Gboni to
enroll and keep
their children
particularly the
girls in school
-
encouraged the
authorities of
Liberia to assist in
the process by
providing salaries
for teachers who
participate in the
program
This is a testimony to
the fact that what ever
we put our minds on, we
can accomplish them
masterfully. All these
great things were
achieved at the time
when it was not
fashionable to have
a Mandingo or Islamic
name in Liberia. Some
had to change all or
part of their names in
order to access higher
educational institutions
in Liberia. In those
days, our culture and
values were not readily
accepted in the Liberian
society…some might argue
that it is still the
case today.
The results of those
sacrifices have paid
great dividends. That is
why many of us are here
today. Thank you for
your guided vision;
thank you for your
sacrifices; and thank
you for setting standard
for higher education
for our generation.
Now time has come for us
to take this challenge
even further to solidify
our commitment to the
pursued of higher
education. Today, we
no longer need to change
our names to be admitted
to the University of
Liberia, or to Harvard
University in USA. If
you don’t believe me,
just ask the newly
appointed Minister of
Planning and Eeonomic
Affairs, Mr. Amara
Konneh who recently
graduated from Harvard.
The content of education
may be deferent, but the
goal remains constant,
that is to get more of
it not less.
Why Pursue Higher
Education?
Some people have a hard
time figuring out why a
higher education is so
important. There are
lots of people who think
they can make it through
life by working at the
local factory, or other
job facilities. There
are others who think
it’s a waste of money
and time. Some may
think that they have
perfect jobs and that
there’s no need to seek
higher education, while
others feel that they’re
too old to seek a higher
education. The excuses
are numerous, but there
are several good reasons
why you should choose to
seek a higher education.
Even though there are
many distinct reasons to
pursue higher education,
let me share with you
just a few:
Wealth, Transmission of
culture and history
Esteem or social class
Wealth:
higher education is an
investment that will
continue to pay great
dividends to perpetuity
and once you obtain it,
it can never been taken
away. Of course, we all
know some people with a
higher education who
earn considerably less
money than their peers
with lesser education.
But the gaps in average
income between those
with degrees and those
without are enormous.
According to US census
2000, the median annual
income for men with
graduate degrees was
more than $66,300, more
than twice the high
school graduate's
earnings.
A new study by two
leading economists,
Edward L. Glaeser of
Harvard University and
Albert Saiz of the
University of
Pennsylvania, goes even
further. The researchers
analyzed the statistical
relationship between
education levels and the
economic growth of
cities and they
concluded that
''[Beside]… from
climate, skill
composition may be the
most powerful predictor
of growth''. Higher
concentration of
educated people is the
best predictor of
economic growth within a
geographical area.
Well-educated people can
react more quickly to
technological changes
and learn new skills
more readily.
Transmission of culture
and history:
When it comes to
protecting and
preserving our culture
and values, education
particularly higher
education is the best
instrument.
In all the territories
of Liberia, only in
Quardo-Gboni can you
find that at least 95%
of the inhibitors are
Mandingos. Only in
Quardo-Gboni can you
find that at least 95%
of the inhibitors speak
our brand of Mandingo
language. Only in
Quardo-Gboni can you
find that at least 95%
of the inhibitors
practice the same brand
of Islam, which is a
non-radical, non
violent, but peaceful,
law-abiding.
These are special gifts
inherited from our
forefathers, and they
come from
Allah-Almighty. We must
never be apologetic for
those values, nor shy
away from them. We must
cherish and respect
them, and we must past
them on to our children
better then we received
them.
Esteem or social class:
Many years ago, India
and China made bold
investments in higher
education. Look how
elevated they are today
in the world’s stage,
technologically,
economically,
politically and even
militarily. If these
things are true for
China, India, and right
here in the United
States, don’t you think
they will be true also
for our District,
Liberia and Africa?
Higher education must be
our new aspiration, the
new direction, and the
new higher-height for
our generation and the
next to follow. We must
make it the pillar of
Qaurdo-Gboni culture in
the 21st century. We do
not need to change or
denounce our cultural
values in order to
pursue higher education.
In fact education will
enhance our cultural
values and systems.
Education knows no
boundary, no culture,
and no style. Who ever
wants and persistently
pursues it, shall attain
it. When we do this, we
will be respected even
more, or we’ll be
condemned if we fail to
do this in the long
run.
Now, we have the
resource, now we have
the reasons, now we need
you to do it.
This is the challenge
for all of the Quardu-Gboni
Citizens wherever and
however you be. Can we
do this? Will we do it?
(Like Obama said) “Yes,
We Can”. I know we can.
Thank you very much, May
Allah Bless You, May
Allah Bless Qaurdu-Gboni,
May Allah Bless Liberia
and the United States of
America.
Al-Sallam AlaiKum
