Liberia: UL Launches Undergrad Program in Fishery, Aquaculture

Cllr. Norris Tweah speaks on the university’s new program

 

 

The Acting Chairperson of the Department of Fishery and Aquaculture Sciences (DoFAS) at the University of Liberia (UL), Alvin S. Jueseah, said all is set and ready for the launch of a degree program in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences.

This is part of the steps to widen its scope of operations in the promotion and pursuit of academic excellence at the state-run university. The launch of the new program, which is slated for Wednesday, January 25, 2023, is born out of many interventions by the World Bank in 2010 going forward to improve the fisheries sector.

Giving details of the program, the Acting Chairperson of the Department of Fishery and Aquaculture Science (DoFAS), Dr. Jueseah, explained that like any degree program, the proposed discipline will be a four-year program. 

According to him, the program will highlight three key areas of specialization, namely; fisheries management and administration, aquaculture and fish processing and marketing. 

He noted that the idea is to build the needed human resource capacity that will support the Liberian government in achieving its sustainable development objectives of national food security and resource conservation, and sustainable management of fisheries resources of Liberia, marine and inland ecosystems to provide long-term goods and services to the communities. 

“The BSc. program is a four-year academic program. The role of the Department of Fishery and Aquaculture Science shall be to train competitive students with skills in fisheries management and administration, aquaculture and fish processing and marketing sciences to provide services in both public and private sector, equip students with tools and methods in investigating issues of fisheries resources management, aquaculture and fish processing and marking issues; and carry out research in marine, inland water ecosystems to assist policy and decision-makers to prepare policies on sustainable utilization of marine and freshwater resources,” Acting Chair Jueseah stated. 

“The bachelor’s degree in Fisheries Science Program is designed to prepare fisheries professionals with competencies in science and practice of fisheries and aquaculture as well as fish processing and marketing issues,” he furthered. 

Cllr. Norris Tweah, Vice President for UL Relations, disclosed that Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor will serve as chief launcher, while the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, will serve as keynote speaker of the occasion. 

Also highlighting other upcoming activities, Cllr. Tweah announced the hosting of a dialogue for the consolidation of peace, security and development in Liberia organized by the Embassies of France and Germany. 

He indicated that the dialogue will be held in the Capitol Hill Auditorium of the UL on Monday January 23, 2023 starting at 11:00 AM. 

“The occasion is used to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty between France and Germany (signed between President Charles de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adnauer on 22 January 1963). There are lessons Liberians can learn from the French-German reconciliatory experience after years of historical tensions. 

German Ambassador Dr. Jakob Haselhuber and French Ambassador Michael Roux will present at the dialogue,” he among other things added.