The West Africa Representative of Accountability Lab, Lawrence W. Yealue, has called on Liberians to develop strong minds, emphasizing that strong minds build a nation.

Accountability Lab is a nonprofit organization that scouts for young people with talents in music, journalism and drama. It seeks donor support for the empowerment of these young people to succeed in their career ventures.

In his address at the 3rd graduation ceremony of the Shah Tah Ahmadiyya High School in Tweh Farm, outside Monrovia, Yealue said Liberia’s problems should neither be blamed on previous generations nor on the country’s 14-year civil crisis.

“Blaming the founding fathers of this nation and the regimes that subsequently followed for its underdevelopment is a complete disservice to us today. If we all agree that they have underperformed, then we need to prove the worth of our existence by doing the right things no matter who or what stands against us for the right we pursue,” Mr. Yealue emphasized.

He said all Liberians need are strong minds to reject corruption; no matter who is involved, even if it is the President.

Yealue said Liberia’s history is replete with wars of many kinds including the battles between the pioneers and the indigenous in the 1820s.

“Liberia is not the only country that has fought wars. Almost every nation in the world has fought some sort of war, and it probably was for independence or something else,” Yealue reminded the 48 graduates.

“A statement by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf describing the country’s education system as a mess should not be a defeat, but a challenge and a wake-up call to gain excellence through positive competitions.”

Yealue expressed dissatisfaction in what he described as “ruined rural teacher training institutes” (RTTIs).

According to him, the RTTIs that are supposed to produce quality teachers for quality service are no longer up to standard due to lack of motivation through salary increment and employment for trainers and trainees.

“Parents should not think that paying fees is their only responsibility in educating their children, because they too need to attend PTA meetings and… read more at source mentioned above.