FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2026
Censil University Graduates 41 Students, Urges Class of 2026 to Turn Education into Service
Monrovia, Liberia — Censil University over the weekend conferred degrees and professional certificates on 41 graduates, calling on members of the Class of 2026 to transform their academic accomplishments into meaningful service and measurable national impact.
The university’s sixth commencement convocation, held at Effort Baptist Church in Paynesville, brought together families, clergy, academics and community leaders to celebrate what administrators described as another milestone in the institution’s mission to train service-driven professionals since its establishment in 2015.
Presenting the graduates to the Board of Trustees, Vice President for Academic Affairs Alex Korkolea outlined the academic composition of the graduating class, emphasizing that the university’s expanding academic programs continue to align with the needs of Liberia’s growing workforce.
According to Korkolea, 28 students from the Mother Kolu K. Kalama College of Health and Environmental Sciences earned Associate Degrees, 12 graduates from the Nellie K. Tokpah College of Education received C Certificates in General Education, while one graduate from the Edward B. Tokpah College of Business and Technology obtained a Bachelor’s Degree.
University officials described the figures as more than statistics, noting that they represent tangible progress in the institution’s commitment to producing practically trained professionals capable of contributing to Liberia’s development.
Administrators highlighted the strong representation from the health and environmental sciences program as a reflection of increasing national demand for trained professionals in community health, environmental protection and public health management.
Education as Responsibility
Delivering the keynote address, Rev. Mrs. Neidah G. Lablah, Founder of Divine Grace Anointing Deliverance and Healing Ministries, challenged the graduates to view education not merely as personal success but as a responsibility to society.
“A certificate should never be a decoration on your wall,” Rev. Lablah told the audience. “It must be a tool in your hand, shaping lives and changing conditions wherever you stand.”
Speaking under the theme “Shine Out Your Light,” she encouraged graduates to recognize that their greatest accomplishments will be defined not by credentials alone but by the values they demonstrate through discipline, resilience and service.
“Your light is not your title,” she said. “It is your integrity, your compassion and your willingness to serve when no one is applauding.”
Rev. Lablah urged the new alumni to anchor their professional journeys on five guiding pillars—competence, commitment, character, connection and contribution—which she described as essential elements for national transformation.
“Competence is not about occupying a seat,” she said. “It is about filling that seat with innovation, responsibility and results.”
Character and Perseverance
Speaking further, Rev. Lablah emphasized that true success often emerges through perseverance and sacrifice.
“History remembers the teacher who stayed late, the nurse who stood firm in crisis, and the entrepreneur who refused to surrender to failure,” she noted, adding that resilience will be vital as graduates navigate Liberia’s challenging economic environment.
She also stressed the importance of integrity in professional life.
“Degrees introduce you to opportunity,” she said. “But character decides whether opportunity stays.”
Rev. Lablah further encouraged graduates to cultivate strong professional relationships and networks.
“No light shines in isolation,” she said. “When you lift others, your influence multiplies and your purpose becomes larger than your profession.”
Service as the Measure of Education
Concluding her address, Rev. Lablah reminded the graduates that the true value of education lies in the impact it has on society.
“If your learning does not improve a life, then it has not reached its full meaning,” she said. “Shine for Liberia, shine for humanity, and shine where hope is needed most.”
In separate remarks, Board Chairman Rev. J. Andrew Lablah reaffirmed the Board of Trustees’ commitment to strengthening the university and expanding opportunities for quality higher education.
“This university will remain a beacon of excellence, innovation and integrity,” he said, noting that the board remains aligned with the administration’s vision to deepen academic standards and broaden the institution’s reach.
Addressing the graduating class, the chairman described their achievement as both a personal milestone and a national asset.
“Your education is not only your asset,” he said. “It is a torch that lights pathways for communities and generations yet unborn.”
He urged the Class of 2026 to carry the university’s reputation with pride and ensure that their success is ultimately measured by their service to society.
The ceremony concluded with prayers, applause and photographs as graduates processed out of the sanctuary amid cheers from relatives, faculty members and well-wishers.
