MONROVIA, Oct. 1, 2026 — Attorney Siaffa Bahn Kemokai, Special Assistant at the Office of the Minister of Justice, has urged students to embrace academic excellence, ethical leadership, collective empowerment, and digital innovation as Liberia prepares for an increasingly technology-driven future.
Kemokai made the call Thursday, October 1, 2026, when he served as guest speaker at the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) Students Governing Council (SGC) Back-to-School Seminar held at the AME Auditorium in Monrovia.
The seminar was held under the theme, “Empowering Students for Academic Excellence, Leadership, and the Digital Future.”
Addressing students, Kemokai said young people are not merely future leaders but active stakeholders in shaping Liberia’s present and future.
He encouraged students to become more involved in national conversations and constructive actions, stressing that societies advance when people organize, participate, and work collectively to address common challenges.
Kemokai also challenged the conventional understanding of empowerment, arguing that it should go beyond individual advancement to equipping citizens with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to address broader societal problems.
According to him, issues including poverty, inequality, and the digital divide require collective approaches that place the common good at the center of national development.
On academic excellence, Kemokai said the pursuit of knowledge should not be driven solely by competition and individual achievement, noting that learning is also a social process that depends on collective support and cooperation.
Addressing the digital divide, Kemokai pledged to donate a Starlink internet system to AMEU to help improve students’ access to internet services while on campus.
He said access to reliable internet is increasingly important to academic development, particularly as students rely on digital resources, online learning platforms, research materials, and emerging technologies.
Kemokai also emphasized the growing importance of technology and artificial intelligence, urging Liberia and other African countries to ensure that the digital transformation does not deepen existing inequalities.
He called for a “whole-of-society” approach to technological development, saying Liberia’s digital strategy must take into account the country’s educational and infrastructural realities.
Kemokai further urged students to rethink leadership and excellence in the digital age, emphasizing the need for ethical leadership that prioritizes collective interests over personal advancement.
He cautioned young people against using social media and digital platforms to attack or bring down others, stressing that technology should be used to promote constructive engagement, social dignity, and national development.
“Sadism is not activism! Advocacy is not lynching!” Kemokai said.
He also called for greater recognition of Africa’s historical contributions to technology and human development, arguing that African countries must actively participate in shaping the future of technology rather than remaining consumers of innovations developed elsewhere.
Kemokai said ensuring access to technology and other socially important services should remain part of Liberia’s broader development agenda, particularly for people in underserved communities.
The AMEU-SGC Back-to-School Seminar brought students together at the beginning of the academic year to discuss academic development, leadership, empowerment, and opportunities presented by the digital age.
