Published: November 26, 2025
MONROVIA, Liberia — Starz University, Liberia’s premier information technology institution, has concluded its 8th commencement convocation, graduating more than 280 students across undergraduate and graduate programs. Delivering an emotionally powerful keynote, United Nations Resident Coordinator N. Christine Umutoni challenged graduates to embrace their identity and purpose, telling them, “If you don’t know your story, you cannot know your glory.”
The ceremony, held Tuesday, November 25, at the Monrovia Christian Fellowship, brought together senior government officials, international partners, educators, university administrators, parents and students under the theme “Rooted in Excellence, Rising to Global Challenges.”
‘Own Your Story; Own Your Glory’
Opening her address, Madam Umutoni asked the graduating class a pointed question: “Graduates, do you know your story?” She then drew from her own life to underscore the power of resilience.
“I was born a refugee girl in Uganda. My parents fled Rwanda in 1959 during the first wave of ethnic violence. We had nothing. I walked to school barefoot, often without books,” she recalled. At one point, she said, she was ready to quit school because she knew her family could not afford secondary education.
A single act of kindness changed her life. “One teacher—Miss Robinnah—believed in me,” she said. The teacher took her into her home, helped her finish primary school, and secured a scholarship that shaped her future.
Yet even with opportunity, barriers persisted. “I was told I couldn’t study law because I was a refugee. I was told I couldn’t be a leader because I was a girl. I was told I couldn’t dream because I didn’t belong,” she said. “But I kept going.”
Her journey from refugee to lawyer, liberation activist, deputy minister, ambassador, and now the UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia, she said, is proof that “hope is not a feeling; it is a decision.”
Through exile, war, loss, and uncertainty—including a year living with a warden while UNHCR searched for her parents—she said her resolve only strengthened. “I decided that I must survive. And that one day I must regain my homeland — and make it a better place.”
Liberia’s Story of Resilience
Umutoni said Liberia itself embodies the story of overcoming hardship. “Your story is one of resilience. From civil war to peace, from surviving epidemics and pandemics like Ebola and COVID-19, Liberia has risen,” she said. “And today, you—the youth—are the heartbeat of this nation’s future.”
She noted that Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with Liberia reflecting the trend. “A quarter of the population is under 35,” she said. “By 2050, one in four people on Earth will be African.”
Calling this a rare historical opportunity — the demographic dividend — she urged graduates to seize it. “Be a demographic dividend, not a demographic burden,” she said.
Integrity, Innovation and Accountability
The UN diplomat warned that the benefits of Africa’s youthful population are not guaranteed. “This dividend is not automatic — it requires leadership, integrity, and innovation,” she stressed.
“Every dollar lost to corruption is a dollar stolen from a student’s scholarship, a youth’s start-up, or a community’s health clinic,” she said, urging graduates to not only demand accountability but embody it.
She also reminded them that they are not merely the future leaders of Liberia, but the architects of the present. “You will be expected to innovate for climate justice, advocate for gender equality, build inclusive economies, protect peace and human rights, and reimagine education, health, and governance.”
She highlighted UN Security Council Resolution 2250, which recognizes youth as agents of peace, and encouraged students to fight hate speech, champion dialogue, and be “custodians of stability.”
In a digital era, she said, technology is their greatest advantage. “Don’t just consume tech — create it. Build apps that solve local problems. Launch businesses that create jobs. Turn classrooms into company headquarters.”
Umutoni closed with an emotional appeal, urging graduates to rise above fear, doubt, and adversity: “You may be underestimated — but do not shrink. You may be afraid — but do not stop.”
Dathong: ‘Be Bold, Be Ethical, Never Stop Learning’
Earlier, Starz University Founder and Board Chairman, Ambassador Latim Dathong, congratulated the graduates and urged them to uphold the institution’s values.
“As you go forth, be bold, be ethical, and never stop learning,” he said. “The world does not only need professionals; it needs leaders who are compassionate, principled, and determined to leave a lasting impact.”
Dathong, a former Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Education with more than two decades of experience in the sector, said the graduates’ achievement reflects perseverance, sacrifice, and resilience.
“Graduation is more than a ceremony — it is a testament to your commitment and focus,” he said. “This achievement reflects your readiness to face the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.”
He described the graduates as ambassadors of Starz University’s belief that education is a force for transformation. “Whether you are entering the workforce, pursuing advanced studies, or launching an enterprise, your knowledge and character are powerful tools to create positive change.”
Valedictorian Calls for Accountability in Procurement
The 8th Graduating Class Valedictorian, Cassius R. Gibson, who earned a Master of Information Technology, praised Starz CEO for transforming “dreams into degrees.”
“You have built a university not just competing but leading in innovation, technology, and quality education,” he said. “Your commitment to affordable, world-class learning has changed countless lives.”
Gibson also thanked his colleagues at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, particularly his team at the Liberia Macroeconomic Policy Analysis Center (UMPAC), for their continuous support.
He paid an emotional tribute to his mother. “To my mother, Mrs. Susan Nmapoh — the woman whose prayers never run dry — this moment belongs to you,” he said.
As a student of Procurement and Logistics Management, Gibson said he has seen how procurement systems can “make or break national development.” He pledged to use his training to improve transparency and efficiency in public spending.
His thesis, The Impact of E-Procurement on Transparency and Efficiency in Liberia’s Public Sector, he said, highlighted systemic gaps and offered evidence-based reform recommendations.
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