Accra, Ghana – The Regional Maritime University (RMU) is poised to see unprecedented growth on the continent and beyond with the backing of Liberia, as promised by President Joseph N. Boakai.
Speaking on Saturday, June 29, 2024, as the 18th commencement speaker of the RMU graduation in the Republic of Ghana, President Boakai stated that Africa must embrace unity in order to achieve irreversible socioeconomic transformation. He added that Africa has the potential to become a global leader if its resources are used wisely and cooperatively.
He asserts that for Africa to reach its full potential, its unity is essential. The Liberia leader also used the event to urge African nations to uphold the union by providing more funding to keep the RMU going.
“According to total tonnage, Liberia presently has the largest ship registry in the world, underscoring the vital role that marine education plays in our nation.”
In order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the global maritime sector, President Boakai stated that the Regional Maritime University and the Liberia Maritime Training Institute, which offer high-end and low-cost maritime programs, respectively, are important educational institutions.
He revealed that students who have completed their undergraduate degrees at RMU frequently transfer from Liberia Maritime Training Institute.
“I have instructed the authorities at the Liberia Maritime Training Institute to increase the number of students sent to RMU in the coming years, reflecting Liberia’s maritime legacy and the commitment to maintaining its prominent position in the global maritime industry.”
“This is a unique moment in your lives, representing the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, determination, and courage in pursuing academic success,” Boakai remarked, turning to face the graduates. You have triumphed over numerous obstacles to secure your position among the current RMU graduates.”
As American film producer Viola Davis so eloquently put it, “All dreams are within reach,” said the Liberian leader. All you need to do is keep going in their direction. You’ve taken steps toward your goals thus far, and these steps have the potential to achieve enormous success if they are combined with the correct elements, prayer, hard effort, discipline, and attention.
He continued that prayer is crucial as the graduates seek God’s direction in their pursuits and that hard effort is necessary to reach any objective.
The graduates were advised by President Boakai to maintain concentrated as it will help them stay on course in the face of distractions. The President maintained that since discipline and character are the cornerstones of success, they should keep onto them.
Academic degrees can propel you to the top, but discipline and character are what will keep you there, as the saying goes. Honesty, integrity, patience, and perseverance are qualities of discipline and character that can help you succeed in life, the speaker explained.
President Boakai encouraged the graduates to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and discipline as they proudly exit the esteemed walls of RMU and make both RMU and Africa proud.
He continued that they should not let their parents or the school down, they should keep in mind that blessings await them when they journey into the marine world.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
