–Vice President Draws on His Own Journey From Street Trader to Liberia’s Second Highest Office as Cuttington University Confers Honorary Doctorate
SUAKOKO, Bong County – Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung Sr. on Thursday challenged Liberia’s newest university graduates to measure success not by the degrees they earned but by the character they demonstrate, the responsibilities they embrace, and the service they render to their country.
Delivering an emotional and deeply personal commencement address during Cuttington University’s 64th Commencement Convocation in Suakoko, Bong County, the Vice President reflected on his remarkable journey from a struggling young businessman to Liberia’s second-highest elected office, urging the graduating Class of 2026 to become innovators, entrepreneurs and nation-builders rather than merely job seekers.
The ceremony also marked another milestone in Koung’s life as his alma mater conferred upon him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), recognizing his contributions to public service and national leadership.
Standing before graduates, faculty members, government officials, diplomats, legislators, alumni and proud family members, the Vice President reminded students that while academic achievement opens opportunities, it is integrity and commitment that determine lasting success.
“While your degree may open doors, it is your character that will keep those doors open. While your degree may secure you a position, it is your sense of responsibility that will determine how far you go. And while your degree may earn you recognition, it is your commitment to service that will define your legacy,” Koung declared.
The remarks drew sustained applause from the audience and became the defining message of this year’s commencement exercises.
A Journey Shaped by Adversity
Unlike many commencement speakers who rely on abstract motivational messages, Koung anchored his address in his own life story.
Born into what he described as a humble family, the Vice President recounted how financial hardship prevented him from immediately pursuing university education after completing high school in 2001.
Instead, he entered business, selling gasoline by the gallon, petroleum products, medicines and other goods simply to survive.
“I had to hustle,” he recalled.
Those difficult years, he said, taught him one of the most important lessons of his life.
“Education is not an expense. Education is an investment.”
Although he had begun achieving financial success through business, Koung said he refused to abandon his dream of obtaining a university education.
In 2006, he enrolled at Cuttington University, financing his own studies while continuing to work.
Looking back, he described that decision as one of the turning points that forever changed the trajectory of his life.
Where Leadership Began
Koung told graduates that it was at Cuttington University—not in government—that he first discovered his leadership potential.
Encouraged by classmates who believed in his abilities before he fully believed in himself, he successfully contested and was elected president of his graduating class.
That experience, he said, reshaped his understanding of leadership.
“Leadership is not about title. Leadership is about service.”
From student leadership, Koung went on to represent Nimba County in the House of Representatives before later serving as Senator.
Today, he serves as Liberia’s 31st Vice President under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.
Reflecting on that journey, he emphasized that success rarely arrives without sacrifice.
“The future belongs to those who are willing to take responsibility for it.”
Character Before Credentials
Throughout his address, Koung repeatedly returned to the theme of character.
He warned graduates that there would be seasons in life when their efforts would go unnoticed and their sacrifices unrecognized.
During those moments, he said, academic qualifications alone would not sustain them.
“There will be moments when nobody is applauding. Nobody recognizes your effort. Nobody seems to notice your sacrifices,” he told the graduates.
“It is during those moments that your character will speak louder than your credentials.”
He urged members of the graduating class to protect their integrity with the same determination they used to earn their degrees.
From Job Seekers to Job Creators
The Vice President also used the occasion to reinforce one of the Boakai administration’s central economic priorities—private sector development.
Acknowledging that graduate unemployment remains one of Liberia’s biggest socioeconomic challenges, Koung encouraged students to think beyond traditional government employment.
“Our nation is counting on your innovation and creativity—not only to seek jobs, but to create them,” he said.
He noted that the Government is working to expand opportunities for private-sector growth and entrepreneurship as part of President Boakai’s broader economic agenda.
“As a man from the private sector, I am honored to work with His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., whose vision is to create Liberian enterprises that can lead private-sector growth,” Koung said.
He encouraged graduates to begin developing business ideas and take advantage of emerging opportunities rather than waiting for employment to come to them.
Honor From His Alma Mater
The ceremony carried special significance for Koung personally.
Sixteen years after graduating from Cuttington University, he returned not only as Liberia’s Vice President but also as the recipient of one of the institution’s highest honors.
University President Dr. Romelle A. Horton, acting on the authority of the Board of Trustees, conferred upon Koung the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), citing his contributions to leadership and national service.
The honor places Koung among a select group of distinguished Liberians and international figures recognized by Cuttington University for outstanding contributions to society.
The award also reflected the University’s tradition of celebrating alumni whose careers exemplify public leadership and national service.
A Day of Celebration and Reflection
The 64th Commencement Convocation brought together senior government officials, lawmakers, university presidents, members of the diplomatic community, clergy, faculty, alumni, parents and hundreds of graduates from various academic disciplines.
Earlier speakers congratulated the graduating class while urging them to use their education to transform Liberia.
Representatives of government, academia and local authorities emphasized entrepreneurship, innovation and community service, noting that national development depends on graduates who are prepared to create opportunities rather than simply pursue them.
For Koung, however, the day’s most enduring message was that success is measured less by academic titles than by the lives one impacts.
As the ceremony drew to a close, he left the graduating class with a final charge.
“Go forward with confidence, purpose, character and responsibility. Go forward knowing that the future of Liberia is brighter because of you.”
For Liberia’s newest graduates, the degrees they carried home symbolized years of sacrifice and perseverance.
But, as Vice President Koung reminded them, their greatest achievements may still lie beyond the degree.
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