By Paul G. Rancy, Grand Gedeh County
ZWEDRU, Oct. 21 (LINA)- Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Mohamed “Mo” Ali has challenged graduates of Grand Gedeh University to prioritize competence, service, and tangible achievements over titles and positions, warning against a leadership culture that places greater value on status than results.
Ali delivered the message as guest speaker at the university’s 8th Convocation Ceremony in Zwedru on Saturday, October 17, where he addressed issues of leadership, governance, and national development in an inspiring and emotional speech.
Speaking to the graduating class, Ali urged the graduates to measure success by their contributions to society rather than the positions they occupy or the titles attached to their names.
“Some people become so important that even their names are no longer sufficient—you must announce the title first,” Ali remarked. “And if you mistakenly call a man ‘Mr.’ when he expects ‘Honorable,’ you may have committed an offense perceived as more serious than violating the constitution.”
Behind the humor, however, Ali raised serious questions about Liberia’s leadership culture and the values being promoted in public life.
“What happens when a country produces more people who want to be important than people who want to be useful?” he asked. “What happens when we celebrate appointments more than achievements, admire titles more than competence, and value access to power more than the ability to solve problems?”
Ali’s message took an emotional turn when he reminded the graduates that their academic achievements should not become a source of pride that cause them to forget the sacrifices made by their families and loved ones to support their education.
He urged the graduates to remember the mothers who went to bed hungry to pay school fees and the fathers who abandoned farming activities or used their limited resources to ensure their children remained in school.
“Some may have died, while others live in deplorable conditions. Their names are written on your certificates; they made you, remember them and thank them,” Mo Ali told the graduates.
He emphasized that the certificates earned by the graduates represent not only their personal efforts but also the sacrifices, struggles, and commitments of those who contributed to their educational journeys.
Ali’s message underscored the importance of humility, gratitude, and service, encouraging the graduates to use their education and abilities to address societal challenges and contribute meaningfully to Liberia’s development.