Liberian Journalist, James Papay Kwabo’s Speech Delivered at the Induction Ceremony of the Student Government of Yarkpawolo Zayzay Public School in Zorzor District, Lofa County

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

Distinguished guests, school authorities, teachers, parents, students, members of the press, and most importantly, the newly inducted student leaders, ladies and gentlemen 

I bring you warm greetings from the Board, Management, and the entire team at Alternative Youth Radio (AYR). It is an absolute honor to stand before you today at this important moment in your leadership journey. 

Let me first congratulate every one of you who has been entrusted with the responsibility to lead. It is a privilege, but more importantly, it is a call to service. And today, I want to speak to you about what that call means.  This is why I have decided to speak to you on the theme: “Leadership is a Call to Action so Rise, Serve, and Transform!” 

Understand that The Power of Leadership Lies in Action 

You see, leadership is not about fancy titles. It is not about being called “President,” “Speaker,” or “Secretary-General.” Leadership is about stepping up when things get tough, when others doubt you, when the path forward is unclear, and when challenges seem undefeatable. 

The real question is not whether you will lead. The real question is how you will lead. 

Will you be the kind of leader who sits back, waits for someone else to act, and makes excuses when things go wrong?   Or will you be the kind of leader who stands up, takes responsibility, and finds solutions no matter how difficult it is? 

Let me tell you this: leadership is not about waiting. It is about doing. 

I know this because I have walked this road before. In 2007, I was just like you standing where you are now as the elected Student Council President of Zorzor Central High School. I faced the same doubts, the same fears, the same pressures. But I also knew that my fellow students were counting on me. 

They needed someone who would not just talk about change but would fight for it. So, I took action. 

I stood up when students’ West African Examination fees were allegedly stolen. I fought for fairness. I lobbied for the decentralization of the University of Liberia’s entrance exams, and because of that, over a thousand students no longer had to travel to Monrovia just to sit for a test. 

I did not wait for permission. I did not wait for someone else to solve the problem. I saw an opportunity to lead, and I took it.   And that, my friends, is what leadership is about. 

Leadership is a Responsibility, not a Privilege 

Make no mistake today is not just a celebration of your victory in an election. Today is a promise. A promise that you will serve not just yourselves, but your fellow students. A promise that you will uphold integrity, stand for justice, and lead with purpose. 

Because here is the truth: If your leadership is only about yourself your title, your position, and your status then you have already failed. 

True leadership is about lifting others. It is about making life better for those who come after you.  

And if you ever doubt your ability to lead, just remember this: You have already been chosen. Your peers believe in you. They have entrusted you with their hopes, their voices, their future. And you must never take that for granted. 

The Struggles of Leadership and the Power of Resilience

Now, I won’t lie to you, leadership has never been and will not be easy. Some people will doubt you. Some will tell you that you are too young, too inexperienced, or that leadership is meant for others.  But let me tell you something: Leadership is not about age. It is about vision and action. 

Throughout history, young people have been at the forefront of the greatest movements of change. In South Africa, Nelson Mandela was a young man when he took his first stand against oppression. In Liberia, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf defied expectations in her youth, paving the way for women in leadership. Even in the United States, Barack Obama, before standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as President, was once a young community organizer fighting for justice. 

Today, across Africa, a new generation of young leaders is rewriting the continent’s story. At just 36 years old, Ibrahim Traoré became the world’s youngest sitting president when he took power in Burkina Faso in 2022. As a military officer, he has focused on stabilizing the country, combating extremist threats, and promoting national sovereignty. Alongside him, leaders like As-si-mi Go-ï-ta of Mali, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, and Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar are proving that youth is not a limitation but a powerful force for change. 

Beyond the presidency, young Africans are making their mark in parliaments across the continent, bringing fresh perspectives and championing the needs of their generation. In South Africa, Cleo Wilskut made history in June 2024 by becoming the youngest member of the National Assembly at just 20 years old, representing the Patriotic Alliance. 

Here in Liberia, the late Munah Evangeline Pelham-Youngblood shattered barriers when she was elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 at the age of twenty-seven, becoming the youngest ever to hold such a position. Today, that legacy of youthful leadership continues with Bintu Massaley, who, at just 26 years old, became Liberia’s youngest lawmaker in 2023, representing District #1 of Grand Cape Mount County. Her election is a testament to the growing role of young people in shaping Liberia’s governance. 

These leaders embody a powerful shift in African politics one where youth is no longer seen as a barrier but as an asset. They are driving change, promoting economic self-reliance, strengthening national security, and fostering innovation. Their leadership is proof that the future of Africa lies in the hands of its young people. 

And right here in Lofa County, in this very school, you have the opportunity to be part of this transformation. Your journey begins in your communities, in Electoral District Number Five, covering Zorzor and Salayea Administrative Districts. The future belongs to those who dare to dream, to lead, and to act.  Will you be among them?

So when challenges come, stand firm. When others doubt you, believe in yourself. When you feel overwhelmed, remember why you started.   Because leadership is not about avoiding struggles it is about overcoming them. 

Use Your Leadership to Create Change 

Now, some of you might be thinking, “But what can I do? I am just a student. How much power do I have?” Let me tell you you have more power than you think.

When I graduated from university in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, I had two choices. I could have left my home, and my county, and pursued a career elsewhere. But instead, I came back. I built something. I founded Alternative Youth Radio (AYR), the first youth radio station in Liberia. I built a media complex worth over USD 50,000. I created jobs. I started a school of journalism and vocational education that will support thousands of young people including you.   Because leadership is about taking action. 

 So I ask you: What action will you take? 

Will you sit back and let problems continue? Or will you rise, organize, and make a change?   Will you complain about unfair treatment? Or will you stand up and demand justice?   Will you watch students struggle? Or will you create programs to help them succeed? 

That is the choice before you. 

In conclusion, my fellow leaders, you must Rise, Serve, and Transform communities because the future is in your hands. Not just the future of your school but the future of this county, this district, and this nation. 

Do not wait for tomorrow to lead, start today. 

Do not let fear hold you back, rise with confidence. 

Do not limit yourself because the world needs your leadership. 

And if you ever doubt what is possible, just look around you. Look at your classmates, your teachers, your parents. Look at your own journey. You have already come so far. 

Now, take that next step. Rise, serve, and transform your school, your community, and your country. 

Because you are not just a student leader. You are the future of Liberia. 

Congratulations once again! I believe in you, and I cannot wait to see the great things you will achieve.   Remember, you are never too young to lead!

Thank you!