The Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions (CEIO) on Wednesday celebrated its 17th anniversary on Carey Street in central Monrovia.
Speaking at the celebration, National Chairman of CEIO, Mohammed Dukuly, called members of the organization to foster unity and peace to move the CEIO forward.
Chairman Dukuly stated that, while it is true that all things are not rosy, under his watch the center has embarked on empowering its members with technical skills at varied vocational institutions across Monrovia and its environs.
According to him, capacity building of the youthful population is critical for the growth and development of Liberia, and CEIO is contributing in that direction.
He noted that those members who are feeling different about the function of leadership, the leadership is willing to dialogue with them to strengthen the organization’s activities.
Chairman Dukuly added that the growth and development of CEIO depend on every member, noting that with the collective effort of its members a major transformation of the organization can be achieved.
Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to the Justice Minister, Atty. Siafa B. Kemokai, said Liberians should discourage the act of mob justice in Liberia.
Atty. Kemokai stated that when mob justice occurs it is not only the act itself that is troubling, but also the silence that surrounds it.
He noted that silence gives it space, normalizes and, in many ways, sustains the act of mob justice in society.
“Therefore, we must reject silence, indifference. Indifference is not neutrality; it is complicity which, regardless of our profession or position, has a role to play to advocate against mob justice and violence, and champion fairness,” he added.
Atty. Kemokai pointed out that the youth in particular have a critical role to play in this struggle, adding that too often young people are portrayed either as victims or as perpetrators, but the youth are agents of change to bridge between the past and the future.
“Let us empower our youth, not only with knowledge, but with value. Let us teach them that true strength lies not in domination, but in discipline, not in aggression, but in integrity, not in noise, but in reason,” he maintained.
