KPOR TOWN, MARGIBI COUNTY Margibi County – Four outstanding students of Kpor Town Public School in Margibi County were honored with Academic Excellence Awards in recognition of their exceptional scholastic achievements at a ceremony held on Friday, June 26, 2026.
The awards were made possible through a personal donation by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), and facilitated by the Messengers of Peace-Liberia Inc. under the leadership of Gwendolyn S. Myers, a Global Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Pioneer and Member of the AU Advisory Panel on Democratic Elections and Governance.
The award recipients represented both the Junior High and Elementary divisions of the school; namely: Agnes Larty – 8th Grade (Civics: 93%, General Science: 90%), Rena Blamo – 5th Grade (General Science: 86%), Harris Karyeah – 6th Grade (General Science: 95%), and Biatrice Sieh – 6th Grade (Health. Science: 88%)
Delivering opening remarks at the awards ceremony, the Founder & Executive Director of Messengers of Peace-Liberia Inc. (MOP-Liberia), Ms. Gwendolyn Myers, lamented that the students were selected following a comprehensive academic assessment jointly conducted by the school administration, subject instructors, and MOP-Liberia. The four students were recognized as the highest-performing students in Civics, Social Studies, General Science, and Health Science.
The awards emanated months after the official commissioning of the fully renovated Kpor Town Public School, which marked the first Right to Development Quick Impact Project implemented by the African Union in Liberia in December 2025, within the context of the AU’s Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Policy in partnership with MOP-Liberia.
MOP-Liberia described its role in the awards presentation as a continuation of its work to champion and inspire young people’s active and meaningful involvement in peace and security.
Speaking during the ceremony, School Principal Melvin Lackay expressed heartfelt appreciation to Ambassador Adeoye for his generous personal contribution and to MOP-Liberia for coordinating the initiative.
“The support will significantly ease the financial burden on the families of these deserving students while motivating them to continue striving for academic excellence,” the principal said.
Parents of the award recipients also conveyed their gratitude, describing the recognition as both timely and encouraging. Several shared brief testimonies, noting that the awards would encourage their children to remain committed to their education and pursue their future aspirations with renewed determination.
In a message conveyed through the organizers, Ambassador Adeoye emphasized that the recognition is intended to inspire excellence amongst young people and foster greater interest in contributing to Africa’s governance and sustainable development priorities for the future, as outlined in the Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want, the African Union’s long-term blueprint for an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous continent driven by its citizens.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the awards and words of encouragement to the students, reinforcing the importance of hard work, discipline, and academic achievement as pathways to national and continental development.
