By Allen Woah, Contributor
SUAKOKO, Bong County – The Lutheran University of Liberia (LUL), through its Phebe Esther Bacon College of Health Sciences, has graduated eighty-one (81) students in various health disciplines during its second Commencement Convocation held at the Phebe campus in Suakoko District, Bong County.
The graduation ceremony brought together several prominent figures, including the Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, G. Victor Padmore, and Mrs. Cecelia C. Kpangbala-Flomo, Registrar/Executive Secretary of the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery, along with health stakeholders, parents, guardians, and well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the achievement.
The graduating class comprised 40 females and 41 males, all trained in specialized health fields including nursing, midwifery, anesthesia, and laboratory sciences. The institution currently operates under conditional accreditation from the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery.
Presenting the graduates, the Dean of the college, Humphrey Loweal, formally inducted the candidates to the President of LUL, Dr. Saku Malakpa. He disclosed that the graduates included 15 in BSc Basic Professional Nursing, 10 in Post Basic Professional Nursing, 2 in Nurse Midwifery, 21 Nurse Anesthetists, 11 Basic Professional Midwives, 4 in Basic Medical Laboratory, and 9 in Post Basic Laboratory.
Despite operating under conditional accreditation, the university continues to produce skilled health professionals ready to serve communities across Liberia.
Also remarking at the ceremony, Mrs. Cecelia C. Kpangbala-Flomo congratulated the graduates and welcomed them to join over 29 million nurses and 2.2 million midwives globally, according to 2025 data from the World Health Organization.
She further urged the graduates to remain professional and uphold the ethical standards of the health profession as they begin their careers.“You are now part of a global workforce. Maintain professionalism and respect the ethics that guide your noble profession,” she emphasized.Serving as keynote speaker, Augustine B. Chiewolo, Co-Chair on the Committee on Health at the 55th House of Representatives of Liberia and Representative of Lofa County District #5, urged the graduates to demonstrate professionalism, discipline, and commitment in their respective fields.
He emphasized that the health sector remains a critical area globally and called on the graduates to play a meaningful role in saving lives and improving healthcare delivery.“Your profession is one that directly impacts human life. You must serve with integrity, compassion, and dedication,” he stated.
Representative Chiewolo also pledged to work with his colleagues in the Legislature to advocate for increased budgetary support to the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery to strengthen healthcare systems nationwide.
As a show of support, he presented a cheque donation of US$500 to the university to aid its operations.Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, Valedictorian Mulbah Flomo Jr. expressed gratitude for the achievement and encouraged his colleagues to remain guided by the values acquired during their studies.“Let us move forward with integrity, resilience, discipline, and compassion as we serve humanity,” he said.
The graduates now join thousands of healthcare professionals working across Liberia and beyond, contributing to efforts aimed at improving health outcomes and strengthening the nation’s medical sector.
The Lutheran University of Liberia continues to play a vital role in training healthcare professionals, particularly in Bong County, amid growing demand for qualified personnel in the country’s health sector.
