VP Koung Hails UWC-Liberia Scholarship Initiative

Vice President Hon. Jeremiah Kpan Koung has expressed strong support for the United World College(UWC)-Liberia scholarship initiative, emphasizing its vital role in nurturing Liberia’s future scientists and professionals. The Vice President made these remarks on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, during a meeting with a group of scholarship beneficiaries under the auspices of UWC-Liberia at his Capitol Building office. VP Koung extended his gratitude to Saye-maye Cole, the National Coordinator of the program, for successfully overseeing the rigorous selection process aimed at identifying talented high school and university students across Liberia. He emphasized that providing young students with opportunities to study various science disciplines abroad will significantly help address the ongoing challenge of brain drain in Liberia. The Vice President also urged the scholarship recipients to return to Liberia upon completing their studies to contribute to the country’s development. However, he called on the organizers to verify the medical and science study programs offered in India, following recent concerns raised by some students. According to VP Koung, during his recent visit to India, some students reported being denied the opportunity to pursue science courses upon arrival, which has caused frustration among the beneficiaries. Earlier, Mr. Saye-maye Cole, the National Coordinator of UWC-Liberia, described the recruitment process as highly competitive, designed to select the most promising students capable of bridging Liberia’s skills gap in science and technology. Mr. Cole was accompanied by 13 scholarship beneficiaries, who have been recruited to study in countries including India, Israel, and China, among others. He emphasized that the initiative underscores Liberia’s commitment to investing in its youth and fostering a new generation of skilled professionals to propel national development.