AMEU Graduates Urged to Pursue Unity and Service for Success

The Keynote speaker for the 2021 commencement convocation of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), Dr. Philip Z. Ireland, has urged graduates of the university to put away nepotism, tribalism and separation into parties, as success is not a one-man-show, but a product of teamwork.

Dr. Ireland made the remarks during the observance of the university's 21st commencement convocation, held at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) in central Monrovia on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

Yesterday’s graduation program brought together parents, AME University’s staff, government officials, heads of higher learning institutions, students of AME University and friends. 

The university graduated more than 550 students with the college of Business and Public Administration taking the lead, followed by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.  Dr. Ireland said to become successful in this changing world, graduates must have not only the essential knowledge, skills, and attitude of various fields that they acquired in the university but also other pearls of wisdom that are needed.

“Every member of the team has a part to play. If experienced individuals are left out of the team based on nepotism, tribalism and politics, the team will often lose. Your vision for service will become even clearer with good relationships,” Dr. Ireland said.

Dr. Ireland told graduates that their resilience will become even stronger with good relationships, adding: “a diverse but united team will often win.” He further urged the graduates to stay united and serve as leaders in national reconciliation, stating that, “to have a good success in your careers, you have to give back, especially to Liberia that has contributed to your development.”

“This is one of the greatest lessons of life. To be fulfilled and happy, you have to give something back. I know you know that, because that’s a lesson that is woven into the very fabric of humanity. It’s a lesson that your education has enhanced in you,” Dr. Ireland said.

Dr. Ireland told the graduates that they have channeled their energy into growth and development, and urged them to use their education to do good and strive for more than just the good feeling that service provides, because doing good actually makes one better.

“Whatever field you choose, if you operate from the paradigm of service, know your life will have more value and you will be happy. Use your expertise as a platform to serve others, no matter where life takes you,” Dr. Ireland said. 

According to him, there is something already in the graduates that the university assisted to cultivate, a reason why they were at the point of commencement and that reason is greater than any degree.

“And it’s greater than anything anybody can tell you that you are supposed to do. Your real duty to humanity is to find out what your purpose is and get about the business of developing it,” Dr. Ireland said.

He told the graduates that the world is rapidly changing and the developing world is facing many challenges of that change.

“The socioeconomic systems that run this world have had a deleterious effect on the environment. For instance, climate change, the Coronavirus pandemic, and the sustainable development in emerging and developing countries continue to have impacts. Other challenges to developing nations include those associated with globalization, corruption, rural and urban poverty and gender,” Dr. Ireland said. 

He lauded the faculty and staff of the university who assisted in the meticulous preparation of the graduates for their academic rite of passage. 

Dr. Rev. Alvin A. Attah, President of the African Methodist University (AMEU) told the 21st graduating class that they have done their work to earn their degrees at the university. 

“You have more than satisfied the requirements needed to earn you a degree today and at the AME University. You have spent endless hours in the library researching. You have written several exams also and have drafted and redrafted chapter after chapter and responded to theses and masterpiece,” Dr. Attah told graduates.

He said they are entering the world at the time of inconsistencies and enthusiasm, and reminded the graduates that Liberia is in a downward economic situation and, as Liberians struggle to revamp it, “we must utilize the unique opportunity to restore our economy.”

According to him, the new graduates have the opportunity to examine the kind of society Liberia has now and reexamine who Liberians want to be, and to create new institutions that will shift lives and expectations.

“You have the choice to do better than we have and, in so doing, you have to be governed by the life of results before you. You need not presume by the assumption of the previous generation,” Dr. Rev. Attah said.