Liberian official: Science key to nation building

Assistant Foreign Minister for Administration, Mr. Terry Genesis has stressed a need for government to prioritize sciences in various high schools to enable students, who are desirous of becoming future scientists, achieve their dreams.

He said everywhere around the world science plays major role in nation building, emphasizing that if Liberia is to get back on the right trajectory, science education must be taken seriously.

Assistant Minister Genesis made the call over the weekend, when he proxy for his Boss, Marjon V. Kamara at program marking the 7th Annual Science Fair of the Turkish Light International School in Airfield, Sinkor.

Addressing members of the teaching staff, parents, and dignitaries at the occasion, Mr. Genesis said, “I think this initiative must be encouraged and supported by national government, and the private sector to identify more talents of our kids in the areas of science and technology.”

Giving a background of the science fair, he recalled that back in 1942, when William Emerson Ritter and Edward W. Scripe created the Science Talent Search for high school students in the United States.

He said history shows that Mr. Alan J. Fletcher at age 18, won the first American National Science Fair in which he demonstrated the laws of motion thereby, making the idea of science fair popular in the U.S.

According to him,science innovation became famous when the Jonas Salk vaccine for polio and the launch of sputnik brought science fiction to reality, and attracted increasing number of students to the fair, noting that this should draw attraction and interest in among Liberia youths especially, scholars.

Minister Genesis said program of the Turkish Light International School System is a strong demonstration of the African Union quest for domestication and implementation of Africa’s Science, technology, and innovation in all member States, as contained in the document, Agenda for Africa 2063.

Meanwhile, hehas called on young people to develop interest in and passion for science, technology, and innovation to move Liberia forward, saying if we can begin the little commitment and achieve the bigger dreams to put Liberia in the annals of world recognition in science and technology.

Published on The New Dawn