MONROVIA – In a moment of diplomatic recognition and academic celebration, the Indian Embassy in Liberia has presented the symbolic National Emblem of India to Associate Professor Dr. Josephus Gbala-hinnih Moses Gray, Dean of the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities and Doyen of the Council of Deans at the University of Liberia.
The presentation, which took place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Thelma E. Duncan Sawyer Faculty Lounge on the University of Liberia’s Fendall Campus in Louisiana, Montserrado County, was part of a special welcome ceremony honoring ten Liberian scholars who recently returned from India with advanced degrees in various disciplines.
His Excellency Manoj Bihari Verma, Ambassador of India to Liberia, made the symbolic presentation of the Ashoka Pillar, India’s National Emblem. The emblem, featuring four lions, embodies peace, power, courage, governance, confidence, and pride. These are values deeply rooted in India’s heritage and symbolic of Dr. Gray’s visible leadership and academic accomplishments at the Amos C. Sawyer College.
Ambassador Verma praised Dr. Gray for his dedication to quality education, human development, and institutional transformation at the University of Liberia. He lauded the Dean’s leadership as one that has steered the college onto a new and positive trajectory marked by tangible achievements and a strong academic culture.
The Ambassador emphasized the significance of the Liberia–India partnership in education, noting the growing collaboration between the University of Liberia and Indian institutions such as Sharda University. He also reaffirmed the Indian government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Liberians through scholarships and academic exchanges.
In response, Dr. Gray expressed deep appreciation to Ambassador Verma and the Indian Embassy for their consistent support of Liberian students studying in India. He said the Indian government’s generosity has not only eased financial burdens on students and their families but has also enabled many to pursue academic dreams that would otherwise have been out of reach.
Dr. Gray highlighted the enduring value of India’s contributions to Liberia’s education sector and encouraged Liberian faculty, staff, and students to take full advantage of the scholarship programs made available by the Indian government. He also commended Ambassador Verma’s people-centered approach to diplomacy, describing it as one that “fosters trust, strengthens bonds, and builds positive connections.”
The ceremony, held in front of the University of Liberia’s Academic Complex where convocations are traditionally held, served as a strong affirmation of the growing ties between the two countries and the shared commitment to academic excellence and development.
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