-177th Independence Day Orator recommends Empowerment for Cultural and Creative Entrepreneurs
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey, Liberia’s 177th Independence Day orator made a clear national call for a shift of investment attention from extractive to creative industries.
She believes that extractive industries make
Liberia vulnerable to the vagaries of global capitalism. Therefore, she wants cultural and creative entrepreneurs empowered, valued, protected through copyright laws and fairly compensated.
“I must also insist that we shift our attention away from the extractive industries, which make us vulnerable to the vagaries of global capitalism, and focus instead on developing our creative industries. Why not empower cultural and creative entrepreneurs so that the work of craftspeople, writers, musicians, visual artists, actors, designers, dancers, etc, is valued, protected through our copyright laws and fairly compensated?”
Dr. Robtel noted that in order to
re-imagined Liberia, Liberians must reject anti-intellectualism and develop critical thinking skills and invest in lifelong learning that will enhance the country’s creative industries.
“So, in addition to educating geologists, engineers and epidemiologists in our universities, we also focused on training electricians, carpenters and plumbers in our technical and vocational education institutes. This is a model worth replicating because everyone does not need to attend university to contribute to structural transformation. Having said that, I must stress that a re-imagined Liberia requires an autonomous tertiary education sector that is fit for purpose.”
In furtherance, she added that the main goal of ‘development’ is to enhance wellbeing and reduce deprivation. However, stated that ‘structural violence’ and ‘un-freedom’ have involved institutions and structures that fuel inequality and injustice and inhibit individuals from meeting their basic needs or actualizing their fullest capabilities.
The Orator stated that though there are less visible structural than physical violence, however, added that ‘structural violence’ is systemic, enduring and ultimately more dangerous. She further asserted that the true test of any nation is its willingness to transform the structural conditions that render so many of its citizens hopeless and hapless.
Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey who delivered the National Oration under the theme “A Radical Agenda for Re-imagining Liberia” intimated that a re-imagined Liberia intentionally seeks to reduce the ‘unfreedom’ of poverty and the inequity of ‘structural violence’.
She asserted that the contrast between the nation haves and have nots is entirely too stark. Like international statistics have proven, the Orator noted that over 50% of Liberians live in multidimensional poverty. With this, she said it is unacceptable and needless for a country that can boast of 177 years as a sovereign state.
However, she intimated that the nation resources, both human and financial to achieve its development dividends.
She added that Liberia must change its economic model of extracting and exploiting finite resources, and focus instead on building an industrial base for manufacturing
“We must change our economic model of extracting and exploiting finite resources, and focus instead on building an industrial base for manufacturing and exporting finished products such as steel rods from our iron ore, condoms from our raw latex, furniture from our timber, country cloth textiles handwoven from our locally grown cotton.”
Furthermore, she asserted that some of these assets may not last forever, but the resilience of Liberians will. Therefore, she wants Liberia to invest heavily in Liberians by allocating extra revenue generated from manufactured goods to expand ‘freedoms’ such as access to quality education for all.
