Renowned Liberian humanitarian, Dr. Thomas Nimene Tweh, Jr., has sponsored a four-month long quizzing competition between 136 schools from the 17 electoral districts in Montserrado County, with a call for more investment in the education of young Liberians.
Dr. Tweh’s sponsored quizzing competition commenced at the Noah’s Ark High School in district # 11, Montserrado County, on Wednesday, January 10 with about eight schools coming from each district.
Winners of the competition are expected to receive the amount of L$1 million as the grand prize, scholarships, trophies, medals, among others.
Speaking during the start of the competition, Dr. Tweh underscored the need for young people to be educationally empowered in the society.
He used the occasion to remind Liberians about the significance of maintaining the peace and stability of the country.
He said now the election is over, Liberians must put aside their differences and hold together for the betterment of their respective districts and country at large.
Dr. Tweh emphasized that, despite different political affiliations, Liberians should continue to “love, think and build Liberia”.
This, he added, should be the paramount concern of all stakeholders and citizens.
He said though he was denied from contesting the election, he has brushed the incident aside and is moving forward transforming lives and aiding needy Liberians.
“We wish we were in high school again, because I always took part in competition when I was in grade school. You guys are considered to be the genius of young Liberians. Please don’t be carried away or allow yourself to be used. Elections are over and it is time for all of us to unite. And so, let’s rally around the new President and see how we can move our country forward.”
He observed that others were given the opportunity to govern the nation and, as such, the in-coming government should be given the chance to play their part, regardless of where they are coming from.
“Don’t let anybody come to you and say things to make you think otherwise. All we need to think about is to educate ourselves.”
Dr. Tweh maintained that, with quality and sound education, Liberians will be able to make wise decisions to improve their living condition and help move the country forward.
He said they would also be able to confront the illegal dispensation of justice in the Liberian society.
“I am investing in education because it is my hope that one day when some of you (students) have the opportunity to become Supreme Court Justices or lawyers you will stand for the right thing and ensure that justice is done to all men,” he said.
Dr. Tweh observed that in the past, the unfair dispensation of justice affected Liberia and its citizens and, as such, young people who are the future leaders should not tread a similar path. “Don’t look at the truth and twist it around,” he cautioned.
He, however, vowed to extend the quizzing competition among schools to the remaining 14 counties in Liberia.
“Education pays and it is the key to success. I congratulate every school that is part of this. This is a step toward educating and making the youths rise up for the future.”
Speaking earlier, one of the organizers of the Original Countryman Movement serving as Lead Moderator, Attorney Tonia Gibson, commended Dr. Tweh for his sponsorship, geared towards building and exposing the intellectual capacity of young Liberian students.
He described the event as a “bid to give back to the society through the educational sector”.
“Each district will produce a winner, and all of the winners will enter the national competition beginning with Montserrado County. This initiative is intended to promote academic excellence in our country.”
He disclosed that the 136 schools were selected based upon a competitive process to stabilize the number of schools currently participating in the competition.
Attorney Gibson expressed the hope that the initiative will help ensure that students take keen interest in their studies.
According to him, the on-going competition would also boost and enhance what he termed as “after school programs” among the students.
He disclosed that the various matches will be televised via the internet and radio stations to promote and expose the intellectual skills of the quizzers.
“This quizzing competition is in fulfillment of one of the agendas of Dr. Thomas Nimene Tweh, Jr. He continues to fulfill his promise to promote excellence in academia and support children going to school, even if their parents do not have money. Helping and providing scholarships to scholars is just the beginning of Dr. Tweh’s support to education in this country,” Gibson stated.
He, however, expressed thanks and appreciation to the participating schools for the level of cooperation and coordination thus far.
Meanwhile, the participating schools have heaped praises on “Original Countryman” for supporting the competition.
According to them, the L$1 million pronounced as the grand prize for the champions of the competition is the first of its kind in the Liberian society.
“We are prepared to win the championship because we have been camping and studying for months now. This is the first time for us to hear such a huge amount announced for the winner since we been into quizzing. I want to appreciate Original Countryman because I am also one of the beneficiaries of his scholarship,” Abraham Gorpu, coach of True Vine Institute, stated.
Dominic Martin, Jr., coach of Grace Mission School System, averred, “It was a strange prize announced by the OCM team. When I was even quizzing, I never played for more than L$50,000 in a competition before. The highest money that I ever heard in quizzing competition was the just-ended county meet won by Montserrado, which was L$1.5 million. OCM competition is the greatest because it is just among schools in Montserrado County. We are so proud of the Original Countryman.”
Despite being denied from contesting in the just-ended election, Dr. Tweh continues to extend a helping hand to needy Liberians by sponsoring medical and surgical operations, providing scholarships, aiding the construction of their dwelling places, rehabilitation of roads, amongst others.