By Verity Editorial Board
In April, we honored a much-admired educator, Sister Mary Laurene Browne. A revered journalist, Frank Sainworla, was picked in May. A luminary lawyer, Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner, was preferred for June.
Today, our preferences are an astute academic, Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey, for July – an acclaimed international economist, Dr. Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, for September – and an admired motivational speaker and advocate for persons with disabilities, Ms. Beatrice Synder, for September.
Intro.
On this historic day in honor of 1.17 billion girls worldwide, 122 million girls are still out of school (UNICEF, 2024). Today, we want to inspire girls everywhere, especially girls in Liberia, to see themselves through these three changemakers as a source of hope, inspiration, courage, resilience, and excellence.
The Management of Verity News and The Town Square has picked them as Personalities for July, August, and September 2024. At Verity and The Town Square, we take pride in celebrating Liberians who’ve earnestly worked and are working hard to inspire change, excellence, integrity, and peace.
Why were they chosen?
1) Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey (July):
Pailey is a well-known and published Liberian scholar and activist whose contributions to academia, including scientific research, remain incredibly top-tier. As an assistant professor of the London School of Economics (LSE), Pailey’s intellectual push to decolonize development and disrupt racist tendencies is well documented in her scholarly publications. Pailey has raised awareness against corruption and promoted national consciousness in Liberia through her books/literature including Gbagba and Jaadeh, Dual Citizenship and its Discontents among others. Pailey served as Special Assistant for Communication to former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 2007 and a leadership fellow of the African Development Bank (AfDB) assigned in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. In 2014, Pailey obtained her PhD in Development Studies at SOAS, University of London. She has also studied at Howard University, USA, and the University of Oxford, UK. She recently served as the 177th Orator of Liberia’s Independence Day.
2) Dr. Antoinette Monsio Sayeh (August):
Sayeh, the second woman to become Finance Minister in Liberia, is widely credited with leading Liberia’s post-conflict economic reform and recovery. Born July 12, 1958, Sayeh is an acclaimed international economist whose professional career at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank sets her apart as a global leader in economic and public policy dynamics. Sayeh obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics from Swarthmore College (distinction) and a PhD in International Economic Relations from Tufts University. Before retiring from the IMF on September 12, 2024, Sayeh served as Deputy Managing Director of the Fund. Sayeh also served as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Global Development (CGD) and Co‐Chair for the 19th Replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA19), the World Bank’s Fund for the poorest.
3) Ms. Beatrice Synder (September)
Born on November 18, 1996, Beatrice embodies perseverance, hope, resilience, and possibilities amid daunting odds in this time and age. Beatrice stands out as a rare gem of courage and consistency. “Disability is not inability,” can be likened to her incredible journey – a journey as an advocate and entrepreneur. Our awardee for September has been breaking glass ceilings far beyond her wheelchair. She is an alumna of the University of Liberia after obtaining a bachelor’s degree on September 16, 2024. Beatrice graduated from Our Lady of Fatima High School on July 23, 2016. In 2022, she graduated from the Young Political Leadership School Africa as part of the next generation of leaders in Liberia and Africa. Beatrice deepened her skills in diplomacy and international relations after she obtained a certificate for participating in the Model United Nations Conference on August 29, 2024. As an entrepreneur and humanitarian, Beatrice serves as CEO of Initiative Motivational Aid Foundation (IMAF), an establishment dedicated to inspiring hope and serving humanity.
Liberian girls everywhere have an opportunity to be inspired by these outstanding and hard-working personalities. This is why we are celebrating them on this special day.
