– As Contractor (MBH Power Limited) Awarded Provisional Acceptance Certificate As Project Enters Its Face Out Period With The Achievement of Its Desired Results!!!!!!!!!!!!

The National Authorizing Office of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, in collaboration with the European Union Delegation to Liberia has certificated Interns who underwent various level of practical training under the Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Project; Light Up Monrovia (LUM), issued provisional acceptance certificate to the contractor as well as certificate of recognition to several individuals for their tireless efforts and dedication in ensuring that the LUM project achieve its desire objective.  

The 36 young electrical and civil engineers who were selected from a vigorous screening exercise based on their theoretical achievements at the University of Liberia and the Stella Maries College after undergoing various practical exercise ranging from six to seventeen months at various construction sites of the LUM project, were awarded certificate of achievement during a souvenir program held at the Bella Casa Hotel in Monrovia during the weekend, following their individual testimonies focusing on  the various knowledge they acquired during their internship.

Speaking on behalf of the National Authorizing Officer, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel D. Tweah, the Assistant Minister for Economic Policy, Honorable James Dorbor Sao, indicated that the Government of Liberia is highly pleased with the European Union being a very strong partner in assisting the Government of Liberia in meeting its developmental goals in the different sectors, which includ electricity, agriculture, energy, education among others.                             

Assistant Minister Sao pointed out that as the LUM Project was an opportunity to have young brilliant Liberians participate in such a huge project, Liberia needed a lot more in terms of energy generation after the EU and other partners have funded the energy expansion and distribution in the country.

He then commended MBH Power Limited and its partners for properly executing the LUM expansion and distribution project under the supervision of the LEC with funding from the EU. Stressing, “There is a need for future collaboration as working together to make Liberia great is good for the people of Liberia to achieve what they need.”

The EU Head of Infrastructure, Madam Stefania Marrone, deputizing for EU’s Ambassador Laurent Delahousse, praised the MBH Power Limited for ensuring that the Liberian government is assisted in extending access to electricity  after the EU secured US$61 million to fund the Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmission Distribution Project which is  refer to as “Light Up Monrovia (LUM) Project”  and has now connected 41,200 new households to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) grid in Monrovia and its environs.                                     

She intimated that the National Authorizing Office (NAO) of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) in partnership with the EU and in collaboration with the LEC and MBH Power Limited, commissioned various batches of engineering interns and young engineers.

Madam Maroone intoned that “These students and young engineers were selected through a rigorous screening process, participated in the designing and construction works of the ‘Light up Monrovia Project’. They were deployed at several construction sites, and were trained on electrical, civil and general engineering.”

She expressed her joy and gladness in seeing both young males and females’ Liberian students participating in the Light Up Monrovia Interns Program which has trained more than 40 young engineers in various aspect of civil and electrical engineering.

She maintained that, “Participating in an engineering internship allows students to be prepared to enter the market in their chosen career. I congratulate the youthful Liberians for their completion of the traineeship. Having engineers in the making to work along experts, through an internship program has significantly helped increased the capacity of young Liberians in the field of engineering.”

While wishing the various students who went through the internship nothing less but a successful future career, she concluded “The opportunity given to senior students and recent graduates has been a great occasion. You have been exposed to electrical facilities and works, equipment and materials that you never saw it the classroom.”

Earlier, given the welcome remark, Deputy National Authorizing Officer DNAO Atty. Martus Bangalu on behalf of the National Authorizing Office (NAO) of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning that was directly involved with  monitoring the LUM Project, maintained that the project which is at its face out stage, has accomplished what was designed four years ago to be implemented.

She said the program which was designed to accommodate students studying civil and electrical engineering at the UL and Stella Maris Polytechnic helped the students to enhance their careers for the future.

Also deputizing for the LEC Board Chair, Mr. Dele Shobayo, Executive Director Planning Engineering and Connections praised the EU for its persistent partnership with the LEC after the Liberian Civil war which destroyed most of the LEC facilities.

“Given the level of work and materials used at the construction of the Congo Town Subsattaion, the LEC is highly pleased with the MBH Power Limited for the high level of efficiency in the execution of the Ligh Up Monrovia Project”, he stressed.

He said the internship provided a robust practical experience for the UL and Stella Maris Polytechnic interns after a robust theoretical study in the classrooms, and the experiences gained in the field will be of great dividends in the future development of the interns as they enter the real world of work.

He maintained that the quality of work done by the interns under the direct supervision of the MBH Power Limited and the LEC engineers during the six to seventeen months, has provided the needed practical skills for the interns.

Stressing, “If I have the means or authority, all of the interns who went through this exercise will be employ with the LEC to assist us meet the need to provide the required services for the Liberian people.”

 “We also look forward to continuously working with the EU and its partners in strengthening the quality and capacity of the LEC in service delivery to the Liberian people,” he intoned.

Mr. Shobayo further disclosed that the Board of the LEC was very happy that the internship has prepared the interns and has now put them on the path of becoming full engineers following the various practical exercises they underwent through the guidance of both the local and foreign engineers.

Also making remarks, the Dean of the Engineering College at the University of Liberia, Mr. Humble Tulay commended the EU, LEC and MBH Power Limited for affording both their students and those from the Stella Maris Polytechnic University the needed opportunity to underg said  internship, which he believes has now  afforded their graduates and incoming graduates practical  experiences and the requisite training or knowledge following their various theoretical exercises in the classroom..

He then urged the NAO and LEC and its partners to institute a feed-back mechanism that will appropriately appraise their intern students, by highlighting the weaknesses or strength that can be built upon by future students from the various engineering colleges at the UL and Stella Maris Polytechnic.

For his part, the Dean at the Stella Maris Polytechnic Engineering College indicated that the certification of the interns exemplified their top-notch performances during their various field exercises.

He also commended the various stakeholders involved with the implementation and execution of the Light Up Monrovia Project which he said has now provided the needed opportunity for the engineering students to acquire practical knowledge.

Giving their respective experiences, the interns both from the UL and Stella Maris Polytechnic university lauded the EU, the LEC, MBH, the NAO of the MFDP and the Government of Liberia as well their respective universities for giving them the opportunity to obtain practical knowledge in Electrical and Civil Engineering following the completion of theoretical exercises at their respective Universities.

They indicated in a celebrity or exceeding joyous mood that their practical experiences form said internship provided them the needed foundation which will now enable them to be marketable most especially in fulfilling their professional dreams with the following take away: “The LUM Project Is A Gateway To LEC’s Success”, The EU Tax Payers Have Indeed Impacted The Youths Of Liberia Through The LUM Project”, “We are Now Capable of Working on or Handling any Contract as a Result of The LUM Project”, “Liberia Can Now Boast of a Set of Engineers Now as a Result of the LUM Project”!