Monrovia, Liberia - The President of the Republic, His Excellency President George Manneh Weah, has called for greater unity and cooperation amongst African governments, institutions and peoples in every sector of development in order to overcome growing diversities and surmount both internal and external challenges the Continent is faced with.

President Weah indicated that the advancement of the Continent rests solely on the shoulders of Africans, not external partners who often come with preconditions.

He recalled how the African Continent and its people endured difficulties towards their emancipation and development, noting that it’s high time Africans came together to tap their rich potentials.

The Liberian leader spoke Thursday, April 25, 2017 at his Jamaica Resort during a meeting with heads of several African Universities who are in Liberia as part of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (FURORUM) Forum.

RUFORUM is a network of 105 universities in 37 African countries. It was founded to galvanize joint efforts by African Universities to contribute to efforts to reduce poverty and improve food and nutrition security in Africa.

It is also to develop human capital for Africa especially at graduate and post-doctorial levels so that Africa has the requisite capacity to drive its development agenda. President Weah reflected on collaborative efforts some African footballers made against racism, which was at its highest peak in the 1980s and 1990s. He urged African leaders to stand together to confront common threats.

President Weah indicated that the Forum was essential for Liberia in its efforts to attain growth. He promised to do his best to promote the ideals of RUFORUM. “I will encourage my peers to promote this idea because it is good for the growth of the African continent,” the President said.

“I will do anything that will help our young people to develop.” The Liberian leader welcomed the delegation of university professors to Liberia, and informed them that research in agriculture, which RUFORUM seeks to advance, was at the core of his Government’s development agenda.

On behalf of the visiting African professors, Prof. George Kanyama-Phiri, who is vice Chancellor of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi, congratulated President Weah on his election as President of Liberia and for maintaining and strengthening good governance and institutional processes in Liberia.

“We want to congratulate His Excellency President Weah for his Government’s focus on strengthening agriculture and promoting science, technology and innovation for economic development in Liberia,” Dr. Kanyama-Phiri said. The African universities professors also commended the Liberian leader for organizing a Liberia Higher Education Day meant galvanize support and action for the development of higher education sector in Liberia.

They particularly recalled President Weah distinguished awards, which they said made Africa proud and made him a role model for sports and youth development in Africa.