The year 2012 has come, gone and ushered in 2013, in which many people have adopted personal and general resolutions or plans that would guide their life journey.
Because efforts made by individuals and institutions in society cannot go unnoticed, the Management of In Profile Daily has captured key personalities whose contributions in 2012 impacted and continue impact society and the living standards of Liberians. This exercise is intended to bid 2012 a farewell as we enter the New Year.
In today's edition, we are featuring our Activist, Bank and Educator of the Year 2012.
Bishop Leo Massaquoi Simpson “Educator of the Year”
Bishop Simpson, as Administrator/Principal of the Haywood Mission Institute (HMI), located in Old Road Sinkor, was selected as our Educator of the Year, because, from our own assessment, continues to demonstrate his interest in providing quality education in Liberia. Though he is the head of the Liberia West African Council (LWAC) of the Pentecostal Assemblies of World (PAW) Church, which runs Haywood, Bishop Simpson has also directed his focus how Liberians can be productive in education, thus infusing into the institution disciplinary norms that guide the students against things that distract the attention of people nowadays, especially young people. He is not interested in high number of students, but students who will make the school and Liberia proud. Furthermore, he has not politicized the education of children who attend Haywood.
During the period under review, most of the students were said to have adjusted themselves to rules and regulations governing the institution, as compared to previous years. This is due to Bishop Simpson's stance on providing quality education. Some parents were invited by the institution on numerous occasions to discuss poor performances of their children at the institution. This process is referred to by HMI as 'academic conference.' Such a welcoming administration-parent meet draws parents' or guardians' attention to their children activities in school. It also helps most the students to do well in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) test every year, as well as other public exams.
Bishop Simpson was not only interested in excellent academic performance; he was also rigid on dress code and cleanliness of the students. He himself stood at the gate making sure every student appear neat and, in accordance with student appearance rules of the institution.
To instill the discipline in students, Bishop Simpson also made sure teachers are regular and up to the task, as well as guided by the institution's rules.
In view of the foregoing and among others, we are convinced that Bishop Simpson is our Educator of the Year 2012.
Activist Of The Year
In 2012, activism in Liberia for social justice was one of the many human engagements that kept the Liberian Government alert on some of its responsibilities for the governed.
Though many Liberians played activists' role over the year through the media and other channels, holding the government accountable for actions and deeds that have not been in the interest of the citizens, the In Profile Daily has singled out Cllr. TiawanSayeGongloe as “ Activist Of The Year 2012”.
Cllr. Gongloe remained resolute over the year in review criticizing the government on a number of issues including bad governance and human rights. He has spoken strongly against corruption, nepotism, favoritism and vices critics have persistently accused the government of.
Cllr. Gongloe is one of those against the decision of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to make her son Robert Sirleaf Chairman/ pro-bono of the Board of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).
Despite two positions he held in the Unity Party-led government during the first regime (Solicitor- General and Labor Minister), Cllr. Gongloe has persistently bombarded the government for doing wrongs past regimes did which the very people in state power today criticized before. His admirers hold him in high esteem for his activism, even though critics of the former Labor Minister say he did not criticize the government while serving and enjoying benefits from tax payers' money.
Bank Of The Year
Serving as a custodian of money for Liberians after years of civil war seems to guarantee security and restore trust in the banking system of the country.
There are scores of banking institutions currently operating in Liberia providing services to the citizens, both those working in the public and private sectors.
The Pan- African bank- Ecobank deserves the “Bank Of The Year” title for 2012. Ecobank-Liberia is a household name in the country because its services have helped to revamp the Liberian economy. The branches of Ecobank-Liberia wherever they are located enable customers to deposit and withdraw at will.
Besides being a custodian of money for government officials, business people, ordinary citizens and organizations, Ecobank-Liberia equally provides jobs for qualified Liberians whose contributions to the nation's economy depend on their incomes and taxes paid to national government.
The Pan-African bank needs to be encouraged to maintain its pace of intervention in helping to boost the Liberian economy as the country strives for growth and development.
