20 Liberians Win Morocco Scholarships

Twenty young Liberians have been awarded scholarships to pursue higher education in Morocco, with the Ministry of Education challenging the beneficiaries to excel academically, uphold the country’s reputation and return home prepared to contribute to national development.

The scholarship initiative, presented as part of the Ministry’s broader investment in young people, will give the students an opportunity to pursue higher education and gain international academic and cultural experience while preparing for future professional roles in Liberia.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the scholarship award and preparing the beneficiaries for their studies, Deputy Minister for Planning, Research and Development, Hon. Thomas Momo Parker, commended the Ministry’s scholarship team for bringing the program to fruition.

Parker also praised Education Minister Dr. Jarso M. Jallah, whom he credited with championing the empowerment of young Liberians through education and scholarship opportunities.

According to Parker, Minister Jallah has repeatedly emphasized a simple principle to scholarship beneficiaries: “Scholarship is for scholars.”

He said the statement carries a deeper responsibility for the 20 beneficiaries as they prepare to leave Liberia and pursue their studies in a foreign country.

“You are going as an ambassador for the Republic of Liberia,” Parker told the students, emphasizing that their conduct and performance in Morocco would reflect not only on themselves, but also on their families, the Ministry of Education and the country.

“As much as you want to enjoy yourself, remember, you carry the flag of the Republic of Liberia,” he added.

Parker recalled an experience in Finland where he encountered African students studying medicine who told him they had gone out during the weekend to relax and enjoy themselves. While acknowledging the importance of social interaction, he said the experience reinforced the need for Liberian students abroad to remain conscious of the responsibility attached to representing their country.

He challenged the beneficiaries to view the scholarship not as an entitlement, but as an opportunity entrusted to them by the Government of Liberia.

Parker noted that thousands of young Liberians would have wanted similar opportunities, making the selection of the 20 students a significant achievement that should motivate them to perform at the highest level.

He said the beneficiaries were selected through a process demonstrating their academic qualifications and capacity to benefit from the scholarship. However, he cautioned that selection also comes with expectations, including strong academic performance, responsible conduct and compliance with the terms of the agreement they are expected to sign with the Ministry.

“The Minister of Education is going to monitor you. She’s going to monitor your behaviour; she’s going to monitor your performance,” Parker said.

He said the Ministry intends to track the students’ academic progress and conduct throughout their studies, making accountability an important component of the scholarship program.

Parker also urged the students to prepare for cultural and environmental differences in Morocco, stressing the importance of adapting without losing focus.

“The food you’re going to eat will not be the same as you eat here. You have to adjust yourself. The environment will be different; you have to adjust yourself. The interactions will be different; you have to adjust yourself,” he said.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to take the memorandum of understanding seriously and remain committed to its provisions throughout their scholarship journey and after completing their studies.

“What you’re going to do in Morocco will provide an opportunity for other young people to follow. If you do it right, it’s going to be good for the rest of the people. If you do it wrong, it’s going to be wrong for everybody,” Parker warned.

He concluded with a direct charge to the students: “Go and study. Come back and serve. Make a difference. Liberia is depending on you.”

A representative of the parents described the scholarship program as an important investment in Liberia’s youthful population, noting that about 74 percent of the country’s population is 35 years old or younger.

He said the initiative could help produce a new generation of professionals and future national leaders, with some beneficiaries potentially returning within the next decade to serve as assistant ministers, deputy ministers and professionals in other fields.

Speaking as a parent, he expressed particular excitement that his daughter was among the beneficiaries and would study nursing.

He also urged parents to remain in regular contact with their children, provide encouragement and support them as they adjust to Morocco’s different cultural and social environment.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Cody V. Cody, president of the student batch, thanked the Ministry and scholarship administrators for the opportunity and pledged that the students would honor the commitments contained in the memorandum of understanding.

“On behalf of our batch, I want to extend our thanks and appreciation to the administrator,” Cody said.

For the 20 beneficiaries, the scholarship represents more than an opportunity to study abroad. It is an investment in their education and a test of their ability to transform knowledge and skills into service.

With the Ministry promising to monitor their performance and conduct, the students leave Liberia carrying expectations that extend beyond their individual careers.

The challenge from the Education Ministry is clear: excel in Morocco, uphold Liberia’s reputation and return home equipped to make a difference.