By Dr. John Wulu
Speaking as the Special Guest Speaker at the recent Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) National Conference, Liberian-American educator Dr. John Wulu delivered a compelling address urging Liberians in the diaspora to make education the cornerstone of Liberia’s development.
Dr. Wulu’s speech resonated with urgency, vision, and hope as he called on the diaspora community to move beyond remittances and begin investing in sustainable educational infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives that will secure the future of Liberia.
He opened his speech by acknowledging the resilience, brilliance, and generosity of the Liberian diaspora community, describing it as the “lifeline of their homeland” through both its darkest days and its brightest hopes.
Delivering his message under the theme:
“Advancing Liberia’s Growth through Diaspora Investment in Education,” Dr. Wulu emphasized that the theme was not just a slogan, but a call to action.
“It is a challenge for the Liberian diaspora community,” he said, “a reminder that Liberia’s future will be shaped by what we-sons and daughters of the diaspora-are willing to invest in Liberia today.”
He urged attendees to remember one powerful catchphrase from his presentation:
“Enhance Liberia Diaspora, Educate Liberia, And Elevate Liberia!”
“Our presence here today exemplifies our shared love for Liberia. A nation whose story is both rich with promise and marked by struggle; and it is precisely because of that story that we are here, to turn dreams into reality for Liberia, through the power of diaspora engagement, education, investment, and trade,” Dr. Wulu declared.
The Diaspora as a Force for Transformation
Dr. Wulu reflected on the transformative power of Diasporas around the world:
“From remittances that sustain families, to knowledge transfers that build educational institutions, to investments that spark industries, Diasporas are changing nations. Liberia is no exception.”
He noted that every year, Liberians abroad send hundreds of millions of dollars home, not only to support families, but also to finance education, healthcare, and small businesses. But he emphasized that more must be done.
“Beyond remittances lies a greater untapped potential,” he said, “the capacity of the Liberian diaspora to invest in vocational and technical institutions, to connect Liberia to global markets, and to drive innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.”
Education: The Foundation for National Development
Dr. Wulu underscored the importance of education, calling it the bridge between poverty, prosperity, conflict, peace, stagnation and growth.
He added: “Every nation that has risen from struggle to strength did so because it chose to invest in the minds of its children and youth. Liberia must be no exception.”
He acknowledged the current challenges in the education sector: schools lacking books, qualified teachers, and infrastructure; and children, especially girls, being left behind due to poverty or circumstance.
“Too many bright young Liberians never get the chance to reach their potential,” he said. “But this is not just a Liberian government problem. It is not just an international donor problem. This is our problem—and therefore, we must be ready to provide and implement our solution.”
Unleashing the Potential of the Liberian Diaspora
Dr. Wulu described the Liberian diaspora as one of the most powerful untapped resources for national development. He stressed that members of the diaspora are professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, and innovators with the potential to bring lasting change to Liberia’s education system.
“Imagine what we could do if we pooled even a fraction of our resources—not just sending remittances for survival, but channeling investment for systemic change in Liberia,” he urged.
He called on fellow diasporans to collaborate in turning shared dreams into reality.
“A Liberia where every child learns in a well-equipped school, every community has access to healthcare, our youth find meaningful work, and our economy thrives beyond aid dependency.”
Continuing, he noted, From Washington to Monrovia, from Indianapolis to Gbarnga, from Houston to Buchanan, from Chicago to Sanniquellie, from Los Angeles to Zwedru—we must build the connecting paths of diaspora engagement through education, technology, and innovation.”
Steps Toward Real Change
Dr. Wulu outlined specific actions the diaspora can take: Build and equip schools that give every child a safe place to learn, Sponsor scholarships to ensure no child is denied education due to poverty, Develop teacher training programs to improve quality across Liberia, Introduce digital learning tools—such as AI, robotics, and data science—to integrate Liberia into the global knowledge economy, Partner with universities and vocational institutions to prepare a skilled workforce for the future.
“When we invest in education, we invest in every other sector-health, agriculture, technology, governance, and business,” Dr. Wulu emphasized.
According to him, education produces the doctors, scientists, farmers, engineers, teachers, and leaders who will carry Liberia forward.”
Imagining a New Liberia
He encouraged the audience to imagine a Liberia where: Diaspora-funded solar farms power rural communities, Diaspora-backed agro-businesses feed both local and regional markets, Knowledge transfer programs drive innovation and job creation, Business-to-business linkages connect Liberian products to global markets, Education seminars, trade fairs, and export consortia demonstrate Liberia’s readiness to compete globally.
A Call to Action: Make Education the Centerpiece
Dr. Wulu called on ULAA and other diaspora organizations to make education the centerpiece of their development agendas.
“Let us create a Liberian Diaspora Education Investment Fund—a transparent and accountable mechanism where every contribution is directed toward transforming education in Liberia.”
He also urged the formation of public-private partnerships with the Liberian government and international development agencies, and the establishment of mentorship pipelines linking diaspora professionals with Liberian students.
Conclusion: From Dreams to Action
Dr. Wulu closed with a passionate appeal: “Liberia is rising. But her rise will be incomplete if her children are left behind. The measure of our patriotism will not be in the songs we sing or the speeches we make, but in the opportunities, we create for the next generation.”
He called on the diaspora to commit not just with words, but with resources, time, and expertise.
“Let us transform remittances into profound investments. Let us turn goodwill into sustainable institutions. Let us transform our love for Liberia into lasting legacies.”
He led the audience in a resounding chant:
“Enhance Liberia Diaspora, Educate Liberia, And Elevate Liberia!”
“If we believe it—if we act on it—then the Liberia we dream of is not far away. It is within our grasp.”
“Together, as one people, one diaspora, and one nation, we will build a Liberia where every child can learn, every dream can flourish, and every future can shine.”
