The University of Liberia (UL) has certificated 10 students from the Science and Engineering colleges following the completion of the first phase of an intensive month – long Solar Energy training program.

The training was conducted under the auspices of the Prairie View A&M University in partnership with the University of Liberia, and was sponsored by Heritage Liberia, the International Institute of Family Development Inc., The Africa We Deserve and the Royal African Corporation. 

The closing program was held Friday, October 22, 2021 at the Lake View resort on Fendall campus, University of Liberia. The event was a gathering of energy sector stakeholders, UL officials and students.

 The honorees included five Engineering students (David Brown, James D. Hallie, Henry N. Kpehe, Alice J. Nalon and Lawrence  M. Parker, II) and five Science and Technology students (Konah J. Coleman, Priscilla B. Dweh, Naomi Flomo, Charles M. Ford and Simeon Johnson).

Giving the overview of the occasion, Associate Prof. Weade Kobbah-Boley, Vice President for Institutional Development and Planning, said the Solar Energy training program was organized by Dr. Camille Gibson of the Prairie View A&M University, and representatives from the Africa We Deserve, Heritage Liberia, the Royal Africa Company and the University of Liberia. “The idea behind this collaboration was to have few of our students trained in Solar Energy with the hope that they will have added skills when they leave here or maybe before they leave here to start a journey of self – employment.” She said.

According to her, the University of Liberia is committed to youth empowerment through short-term training that creates linkages for students in different sectors. The solar energy training, Prof. Boley revealed to the audience, was conducted by Dr. Sarhan Musa of the Prairie View A&M University–an experienced trainer in the sector that is sought after not just in the United States of America but the world at large.

She added that training was designed in a way that condensed an entire summer school program into one month of intensive training. 

Vice President Kobbah – Boley also turned over to the University of Liberia books and training materials intended for the Solar Energy program.

Delivering the keynote speech, Mr. Stephen V. Potter, Sr., Deputy Executive Director for Program at the Rural & Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) said the Agency will need to rely on the honorees’ expertise to support the endeavor to electrify targeted areas in rural Liberia, using solar energy.

To support the second phase of the training, Mr. Potter said his agency will donate  10 units of solar energy panels. He added that the RREA will also work with the University of Liberia to seek funding from partners to enhance the Renewable Energy Development Curriculum – an undertaking he noted that partners are very concerned about for the growth and development of renewable energy technology in Liberia. 

The Keynote speaker told his audience that the RREA, through collaboration and agreement between the Government of Liberia and development partners, has funding for several energy projects across the country. “As we speak, a 2.5 megawatt hydro power plant is being constructed to meet, in part,

the energy demand of Lofa County and will cover the districts of Voinjama, Kolahun, Foya and all of the towns and villages within the corridors between the three districts,” Mr. Potter disclosed.  He furthered that the Rural & Renewable Energy Agency also has funding to electrify Buchanan and its environs as well as Greenville and its environs.  In addition to the earmarked fundings, Mr. Potter stated that the Rural & Renewable Energy Agency currently has $9.2m to electrify about 200 health

facilities across Liberia and to install solar mini grids across four areas. He concluded on the point that given the trend of climate change and fundings from development partners, participants of the solar energy training were taking the right steps to becoming important players in a relevant sector.

For her part, Madam Benetta Joko Tarr, Vice President for Administration, University of Liberia, told the Keynote Speaker Mr. Potter to consider Fendall Campus and Louisiana in his rural electrification plan. 

Mr. Adolphus Nippae, the newly appointed Acting Dean of the David A. Straz – Sinje Technical and Vocational College, and Chairman of the Solar Energy Training program, said the 10 students who were certificated had completed a month – long training program under the auspices of U.S. – based Prairie View A&M University in

partnership with the University of Liberia. He said the program was sponsored by one local non – governmental organization (NGO) along with three international NGOs.

Dr. James McClain, Dean of the Thomas J.R. Faulkner College of Science and Technology, speaking on behalf of Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson, Jr., President of the University of Liberia, thanked the universities, sponsors and all those who stood there to carry on the solar energy training exercise.

He also assured the Rural & Renewable Energy Agency that the 10 solar energy panels committed for the second phase of the training will be used for the intended purpose.

On behalf of the honorees, student David Brown expressed gratitude to the University of Liberia Administration, Institutional Development and Planning, the Prairie View A&M University and all the NGOs that sponsored the program as well as the trainers.

He noted that he and his fellow honorees will work together as a team to serve as the first set of ambassadors of the solar energy training program.