THE CEREMONY SAID it all. As early as 8:00 a.m., momentum to the memorable event was far in readiness as people started trooping into the campus of the Booker Washington Institute, where the elaborate program was held, causing vehicular and human hiccups in the process that lasted for a better part of the day as the program proceeded. Traditional singers and dancers, coupled with banner and placard carriers, flooded the streets and communities and turned the often quiet Kakata City, Margibi County, into a sort of carnival normally held in Liberia on special occasions. There were several campaign posters bearing the photos of President Weah with Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and McGill, which projected them as their choices come 2023.
THIS WAS AN occasion of recognition not for any of the internationally blameless public officials of government, but for Nathaniel F. McGill, sanctioned by the United States government. The people however see the contrary in McGill, because they referred to the former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs as “One of the sons”, “One of the fathers”, “One of our faces”, “Our celebrated son”, etc, and praised him for bringing pride to them in his immense contributions to the education of their children.
DESPITE THE DOWNPOUR of rain, the participants defied all odds to make the occasion successful. The moment the people were waiting for came when McGill, in a long convoy of his entourage, arrived and was well received by the mammoth crowd at the entry point into the city. After he had disembarked from the vehicle that brought him from Monrovia up to the venue of the program on BWI campus, the crowd marched along with him amid singing, dancing, battle cries and sloganeering.
WELCOMING MCGILL AND his entourage to the county, the Mayor of Kakata City said the county was excited to play host to the appreciation and honoring program of the former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs for the outstanding role he played in the Presidential Scholarship Program, and said that the citizens and residents, especially the parents and students, will continue to be grateful for the initiative, describing it as the first of its kind in the county. He wished the participants a happy stay in the city.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF the traditional council of the county showered praises on McGill, describing him as their worthy son who has brought pride to them. He prayed that God will continue to bless him in whatever endeavor he engages in.