Liberia’s International Youth Leader and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 Champion for Quality Education, Mr. Nathan N. Gbelee, on Friday inspired hundreds of students during a visit to Diamond Creek Public School in the Soul Clinic Community of Paynesville.
Mr. Gbelee served as guest speaker and chief launcher at a special program marking the official installation of the school’s newly elected Student Council Government (SCG). The event also celebrated the launch of the council’s first major initiative — a project to purchase 100 armchairs valued at US$1,000 to improve classroom seating for students.
In his keynote address titled “The Importance of School and the Power of Education,” Mr. Gbelee emphasized the transformational power of learning, urging students to take ownership of their academic journeys. “While it is clear that schools serve as structured environments for foundational learning, the power of education transcends the classroom,” he said. “Education empowers individuals beyond physical walls, igniting independent thought and innovation that drive societal progress.”
He told students that while schools lay the groundwork for learning and discipline, the real value of education lies in the self-motivated pursuit of knowledge. “Education is not confined to textbooks. It flourishes in the continuous quest for understanding and personal growth throughout one’s life,” Gbelee added.
To support the SCG’s flagship project, Mr. Gbelee donated LRD 20,000 as seed funding. He also pledged full backing for the establishment of the school’s debate and press clubs, which he described as essential tools for building critical thinking, communication skills, and leadership capacity in young people.
The event was attended by school authorities, community members, and education stakeholders who praised Mr. Gbelee’s commitment to youth empowerment. “His support sends a powerful message to our students that their voices matter and their ideas can become reality,” a school administrator remarked.
