Positively Impacting Education

Positively Impacting Education

J.J. Roberts Foundation commemorates Founder’s 202nd Birth Anniversary 

Wade C.L. Williams

Programs marking the celebration of the birthday of the Late President Roberts began from the College of West Africa, Ashmun Street, at 8:30 A. M. on March 15 with a parade of the Foundation’s scholarship students from high schools, colleges and technical institutions to the Center Street grave site where they laid floral designs in memory of their benefactor. Thereafter, the students marched to the Ducor Hillside Monument for the laying of floral designs and back to the First United Methodist Church for the indoor program which began at 11:00 A.M. 

Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first and seventh president of Liberia (1848 – 1856 and 1872 – 1876), established in perpetuity the “Joseph Jenkins Roberts Educational Foundation” in his LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT admitted to Probate 6^th day of March A.D. 1876 leaving his entire estate (coffee farm) and a United States Bonds in the amount of US$10,000.00 for increasing the educational facilities of the country.

At 135 years of existence and operation, the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Educational Foundation has positively impacted the educational landscape of the Liberian nation for the young people through the awarding of scholarships, payment of subsidies to schools and provision of office equipment, furniture and stationeries, and regular and prompt settlement of all fees to include but not limited to tuition, WAEC and teachers’ salaries.

The Foundation’s Educational Development Program presently covers twelve (12) of the fifteen (15) counties in the country. The counties are: Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, Rivercess and Sinoe. The remaining three (3) counties are earmarked for inclusion in academic year 2010/2011. For eligibility, the Foundation Scholarship Guidelines requires a Grade Point Average of 3.0.

Below is comprehensive summary of scholarships distribution and corresponding institutions that are beneficiaries of the Foundation’s educational development program:

Category	# of Schools/Institutions	# of Scholarship Students
Universities/Colleges	8	225
Voc/Tech/Professional	9	34
Sr. High Schools	86	616
Jr. High Schools	22	117
Elementary Schools	1	3
Totals:	126	995

Graduate Program

In place and as part of its Founder’s desire to ensure education for all, the Foundation has awarded a total of ten (10) scholarships for graduate school in the area of Master of Education (MSED) at the University of Liberia. The MSED beneficiaries are required to render a 2-year teaching service to help strengthen the educational system of the country.

                                                               

Some Beneficiaries Of JJREF

Towards nation building and enlightenment of the Liberian population, the following persons have benefited from the scholarship opportunities provided by the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Educational Foundation and are serving in both the public and private sectors of our country with distinction:

1. Augustine K. Ngaufuan – Minister of Finance
2. Amara M. Konneh – Minister of Plannning
3. Patience karngbe – Norwegian Refugee Council
4. Augutus M. Zayzay – President, FLY
5. Francis Dopoh – Director, Real Estate, MOF
6. Baba M. Borkai – Liberia Anti Corruption Commission
7. John B.S. Davies II – Comptroller General, MOF
8. Myers Cheda – First Intenational Bank
9. Boimah Kamara – Central Bank of Liberia
10. Steve Marvin – Asst. Min. Planning

The 202^nd Commemoration Address this year 2011 was delivered by Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Sr., Counsellor-At-Law of the Supreme Court of Liberia and member of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA).

Life, Works & Achievements of Joseph Jenkins Roberts

Joseph Jenkins Roberts was born free in Norfolk, Virginia, the United States of America on March 15, 1809. He immigrated to Liberia on February 9, 1829 along with his mother, Amelia, on the Harriet. Travelling the same ship was James Spriggs Payne who would later become Liberia’s 4^th President.  Educated and poised, Roberts, an octoroon, came from the Negro elite of the Old Dominion. His Mother, Amelia, was a woman of intelligence, moral character and industrious habits. She had gained her freedom from slavery despite the stringent laws of Virginia’s black code. In 1826, Roberts married Sarah Roberts. They had an infant child but Sarah and the child died in the first year in the colony. Roberts married again to Jane Rose Warring, daughter of then Providence Baptist Church Pastor, Rev. A.M. Warring. This union was blessed with one daughter, Sara Ann.

After hearing of plans of the American Colonization Society (ACS) to colonize the African coast at Cape Mesurado near modern day Monrovia, Roberts decided to join the expedition. The second important reason for immigrating to Liberia was evangelization. Propagating Christianity and civilization was a noble and active cause for the Roberts family. Roberts did not impose Christianity on the natives, but through gradual interaction, the chiefs requested Christianity and Western education to be established among their people.

Being a business oriented family, Joseph Jenkins Roberts and a long time friend, Rev. William Colson of Virginia started a trading company that operated between Liberia and America. Business was prosperous and Roberts gained the respect of both

Liberians and Americans for honesty and hard work. But Roberts was not only interested in business, he was concerned about the welfare of the Commonwealth of Liberia.

In 1833, less than four years after his arrival on these shores, Roberts was elected to the position of high Sheriff of the Commonwealth; his responsibilities included overseeing elections and working with the tribes to reduce hostilities not only among themselves but with the settlers. Soon his ability as a public administrator was evident and he was appointed to serve as vice Governor by the ACS in 1839. Two years after, the death of Governor Thomas Buchanan on September 3, 1841, Roberts was appointed as the first mixed-race Governor of Liberia. Governor Roberts’ skills as a diploma and a politician soon became apparent. He became convinced that Liberia had the potential to become a great nation where all Black people could enjoy liberty and justice.

During his governorship, Roberts faced three major concerns: 1) dialogue with the local chiefs for them to join the commonwealth and thereby expand Liberia’s territory; 2) total abolition of the slave trade in Liberia, given its inhumanity; 3) the education of the young people, the fundamental reason and basis for establishing a foundation today called the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Educational Foundation.

 In 1846, Roberts asked the Legislature to declare the independence of Liberia, but also maintained cooperation with the American Colonization Society. The Legislature call ed for a referendum, in which voters chose independence. On July 26, 1847, Roberts declared Liberia independent. On October 5, 1847, elections were held and Roberts decisively defeated Samuel Benedict to become the first President of the Republic of Liberia with Stephen Allen Benson as Vice President.

Realizing that gaining independence was only a first step and the need to carve out a place within the community of sovereign states, Roberts visited Europe, which lasted for nine months. He visited Britain where Queen Victoria gave him a state reception aboard her yacht; visited France where Napoleon III gave him the “Red Carpet welcome” and assurances received for recognition; visited Belgium where Leopold I received President Roberts with distinction.

The second trip was made by President Roberts in 1851 and yielded more fruitful results. France recognized Liberia in 18852, followed in the same year by Brazil and Prussia. The third visit by President Roberts to Europe in 1854 to discuss trade and commerce between Liberia and Europe saw the first coins of the Liberian nation being minted. The economy of the nation picked up with exports amounting to about $800,000.00. Belgium recognized Liberia on March 29, 1858; Denmark upheld Liberia as an independent state on May 21, 1860; United States, Italy and the Netherlands followed on September 1, 1863; Haiti, January 14, 1864 and Austria, September 1, 1866. President Roberts encouraged Liberians to boost agricultural production and become serious about education.

Joseph Jenkins Roberts was a man of the church and a man of God. His membership in the Methodist Church remained active even after he arrived in Liberia. State functions usually began with a service of thanksgiving at a church. He had explicit faith in God as “Divine Wisdom” and in God’s providence in leading the inhabitants of Liberia to the “Land of Liberty”.

Administration

The affairs of the Foundation are conducted by a 3-member Board of Trustees with the assistance of a full-time administrative staff.