Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – The Nationwide Academics Affiliation of Liberia Credit score Union Cooperative Society (NATLCUCS) has concluded its sixth Annual Basic Meeting in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, with the announcement of a internet surplus of L$16,139,734.68, marking a major enhance from the L$14 million generated in 2023. Delegates on the occasion lauded the monetary progress, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing the welfare of struggling academics.
The earnings generated, based on members of the Meeting, demonstrates the Union’s rising capability to uplift public college academics and schooling staff from poverty by elevated entry to loans and monetary providers.
The Annual Basic Meeting, held each three years, is the Union’s flagship gathering, bringing collectively members, regional heads, shareholders, and monetary companions to evaluate progress, elect new board members, and undertake resolutions geared toward enhancing the socio-economic standing of educators nationwide.
Established through the sixty fourth Nationwide Conference of the Nationwide Academics Affiliation of Liberia in August 2013, NATLCUCS was created to assist government-employed academics and schooling staff entry loans for productive use, thereby enhancing their lifestyle.
Serving as keynote speaker on the Meeting, Deputy Minister for Instruction on the Ministry of Training, Hon. Amos Armah-Absolutely, emphasised the crucial significance of monetary empowerment for academics. He praised NATLCUCS for fostering monetary inclusion and enhancing the monetary literacy of educators.
“Academics are the spine of our nation’s growth,” Minister Armah-Absolutely acknowledged. “They should be outfitted with information and instruments for sound private monetary administration.”
He additionally reaffirmed the Ministry of Training’s dedication to collaborating with NATLCUCS and different companions to broaden credit score entry and monetary literacy throughout Liberia’s schooling sector.
Minister Armah-Absolutely used the platform to discourage the notion of educating as a mere “stepping stone” to different professions. As an alternative, he referred to as for professionalism, ardour, and character inside the educating workforce, saying, “The classroom ought to be led by ready, skilled, passion-driven people of fine character.”
In his last handle, outgoing Board Chairman Mr. Joeson B. Whisnant Sr. offered the Union’s 2024 Annual Report, highlighting key achievements together with profitable board elections in 10 counties, participation in worldwide trainings in The Gambia and Kenya, disbursement of L$215 million in loans, technology of L$44 million in curiosity and nationwide consciousness campaigns.
He reported that as of December 3, 2024, the Union had an lively membership of three,377 and ended the fiscal 12 months with a internet surplus of L$16.1 million. Nevertheless, he raised considerations over a troubling pattern of some academics taking a number of loans from completely different establishments with out correct deductions, calling for pressing reforms.
Mr. Whisnant additionally burdened the necessity for enlargement of the Union’s workplace house, employees wage changes, and an interim facility whereas plans for a everlasting headquarters are underway. He applauded members for his or her resilience and urged continued assist for nationwide poverty discount efforts by financial self-reliance.
The newly elected Board Chairman, Mr. Freeman Ok. Duo, introduced formidable plans to develop membership to 10,000 within the coming years. He additionally revealed the institution of an schooling and recruitment committee and plans to implement a software program system to handle the Union’s increasing knowledge wants.
“Handbook knowledge processing is turning into unsustainable as a consequence of rising membership,” he stated. “We’re exploring the adoption of a software program system to reinforce effectivity.”
Regardless of being solely 13 years outdated, NATLCUCS has emerged as one of many largest and fastest-growing monetary establishments serving academics, enjoying a transformative function in lifting educators from poverty.
In the meantime, Madam Mary Nyumah, President of the Nationwide Academics Affiliation of Liberia, praised the Union’s administration for the numerous progress achieved. She referred to as on the Ministry of Training to make membership within the Credit score Union obligatory for all authorities college academics.
A number of members shared heartfelt testimonies concerning the Union’s impression on their lives. One acknowledged, “I personal a home at the moment due to this affiliation.”
The Meeting concluded with the election of recent board officers to steer the affairs of NATLCUCS for the subsequent three years. The elected officers are Mr. Freeman Ok. Duo – Chairman, Mr. J. McCarthy Yarkpawolo – Vice Chairman, Madam Sarah Ok. Kopeh – Treasurer, Mr. Jacob Karney – Chaplain and Mr. Anderson N. Tamba Sr. – Secretary Basic & Supervisor.
