By Naneka A. Hoffman
A candidate in the incoming Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) elections Abdullah Randolph Kemokai, says over the years there has been a total disconnection between Liberian students studying aboard and those at home in school.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with this paper on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, LINSU Presidential hopeful Abdullah Randolph Kemokai, said the Union is the umbrella institution of all Liberian students at home and abroad.
He explained that the incoming election on March 20th is necessary so that those who will emerge victorious to have an effective relationship with Liberians learning outside the country.
He said the intention of strengthening said relationship with Liberian students abroad is to create a database, through the office of the Vice President for International Affairs, where students learning in foreign countries would be captured and their state of being would be known to the leadership.
Student Kemokai further said in early 2019, they watched a situation via Facebook Live where Liberian students were maltreated in Morocco for reasons unknown, adding that this situation drew empathy and solidarity from all across Africa, which was very disturbing not only for the affected students but the nation at large.
He added that in this situation, they believe that when systems are organized in a way that captures one and all, it makes the leadership work less burdensome to tackle.
According to him, history has it that the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) has existed for nearly seventy-five (75) years without its own headquarters, adding that their vision is to secure headquarters and regional structures for the institution and set up both hybrid and e-libraries within those structures where students will have time and resources to research and become masters of their destinies.
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He stated that for Liberia to take a huge jump to progressivism, emphasis should be placed on education.
“We believe that at the Liberia National Student Union, we can be able to lead the charge of change to transform our society from there.”
He said the world is fast developing, and countries are moving ahead in STEM Education, adding that they believe that the headquarters of the Students’ Union can also be a place where students can come and acquire education by using the research hall.
“We will engage with development partners to help equip our libraries with the materials needed.”
He said they will dialogue with national government on the increment of allotments to enable the Union to execute its programs.
Kemokai added that they will cooperate with institutions and NGOs across the country to support programs that promote academia.
Meanwhile, he stated that they will revamp the Bureau of Education and International Affairs that will be responsible for securing and preparing students for international scholarships for excellent students, with preference given to those students in the natural and applied sciences.
Kemokai said they will work with the MOE to reinstate the local scholarships offered years ago.
He said this plan will focus on comprehensive support for students applying to prestigious universities worldwide, adding that this includes admission and scholarship support, development of independent application skills, enhancement of professional skills, cultural sensitivity training, interview preparation, assistance with research proposals, and strategies for navigating financial aid and scholarships.
“The Union will not be a puppet institution, but a leadership willing to dialogue for the greater good of the students.”
He said if elected, under his leadership students will have opportunity to enroll in career development programs and connect with successful professionals and mentors to enable them to have a specific career in mind before matriculating to college. Editing by Jonathan Browne
