MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah on Thursday, July 31, officially inaugurated the 2025 Edition of the Liberia National Academic Excellence Award during a well-attended program at the Liberia Learning Center in Paynesville.

The Award is an initiative implemented by the Ministry of Education and Educate the NextGen to empower the brightest students in Liberia’s Senior Secondary Schools by finding, honoring, and celebrating them each year.

The Director of ETN, Isaac Muapoh, stated that this year’s edition of the LNAEA will enhance leadership, civic responsibility, digital literacy, innovation, career development, and scholarship access, as well as physical wellness and mental health for the award recipients.

Muapoh extended special appreciation to Minister Jallah for her support and for enabling a productive partnership through Assistant Minister Sona T. Sesay, whom he praised for her dedication to student development.

“Madam Minister, we could not have had a better Student Personnel Services Minister than Minister Sesay,” Mr. Muapoh said, acknowledging her remarkable efforts in working with young people in the sector.

In her remarks, Dr. Jallah, a valedictorian of Hope High School in the United States and a Doctoral graduate with a 4.0 GPA, reiterated the significance of celebrating excellence to restore merit and healthy competition in Liberian schools.

In addition to the Award, the Minister emphasized the importance of establishing the Liberia National Honors Society as a legacy project for excellence in Liberia and called on Educate the Nextgen to join the Ministry in establishing this.

“The Ministry will give priority to the LNAEA class of 2025 as the Ministry reopens the Government local scholarship,” she stated.

As a reflection of this commitment, Dr.  Jallah awarded Abdullah Sonnie, a 2017 valedictorian of the A.M. Fofana Islamic and English school, a full scholarship to pursue his undergraduate studies at any university locally.

The initiative launched by the Minister garnered instant acclaim from both local and international partners, including the Office of the Speaker of the 55th National Legislature, the Swedish Ambassador, UNICEF, UN Women, UNESCO, SOS Children’s Villages, the National Road Fund, the National Oil Company of Liberia, and the Catholic Relief Service.

These organizations welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry and ETN to promote the concept through joint efforts.

Moreover, Dr. Layli Maparyan, President of the University of Liberia, pledged to grant those receiving the awards automatic admission to the University of Liberia and membership in the University’s Honors Society, without the requirement to sit the university’s entrance examination.

One of ETN’s current partners, BlueCrest University, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the institution’s activities.

Meanwhile, the United Methodist University and Stella Maris Polytechnic University have both welcomed collaboration with the Ministry and ETN to provide incentives for these students.

“My Watchman”, a local technology company that provides emergency response services, also provided ten internships for ten of this year’s award recipients.

To this end, the Ministry of Education and Educate the NextGen are urging all secondary school students, parents, school administrators, and organizers of academic competitions across Liberia to apply for the Liberia National Academic Excellence Award 2025 if they meet or know someone who meets the criteria listed.

The application is officially open until August 22, 2025.