BYU-Pathway Graduates Hundreds in West Africa

A graduation ceremony of the first set of students of BYU Pathway in the Sierra Leone zone was held on April, 09, 2022 at the Kissy Sierra Leone Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

One hundred and thirteen students received their certificates of course completion. The graduation ceremony attracted graduates from across the stakes within the Freetown municipality and from Makeni District in Northern Sierra Leone. Key among the graduates were stake authorities and other local church leaders. Bishop Rahim Kamara who was representing the Seminaries and Institute office said that what they were witnessing, referring to the graduation ceremony, is a result of hardwork and dedication. He continued that BYU Pathway is one of the paths towards accomplishing what the Lord expects of us here on earth. He encouraged students to align their learning with gospel principles by enrolling into the institute of Gospel Learning. Bishop Rahim Kamra said that, “Seminaries and Institute of Gospel Learning are not only for students of the BYU PathwayConnect, but for every member of the church. President Kenneth Pambu, recounts the story of the Good Samaritan told by Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke about a traveller who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left almost dead alongside the road. President Pambu stated that the mobbed traveller was first avoided by a Jewish Priest and a Levite. “But then comes a Samaritan”, he said. Adding that, “if the Samaritan had not had any skills or money, how could he have helped the traveller”. He likens that story to the graduates, stating that they are now on the right path to look after any stranded traveller.

Sister Shauna Duke, a Senior Missionary for Pathway, stated that BYU Pathway is for what she calls “the hidden many”. Furthering that the graduates have been trained to be disciple leaders. She and Elder Jonathan Duke commended Elder Emmanuel Kamara, the Sierra Leone zone leader of BYU PathwayConnect for his tremendous effort towards the successful graduation ceremony. President Idrissa Turay of the Kissy Sierra Leone Stake presented the certificates. President Touray likened his feeling as reminiscence and nostalgia, recalling his own graduation day some fifteen years ago in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone. Citing a few scriptures from the standard works of the church, President Turay likens the preparedness of the graduates to that of the Samaritan as well. Understanding that it was as a result of his preparedness that he was able to lend a hand to the helpless man that was mobbed. He encouraged graduates to not be complacent, but rather, to keep learning and enquiring on what the next step should be and not let the BYU Pathway certificates end their education.

Graduation ceremonies were also held in Bo, Sierra Leone and Monrovia, Liberia.  Many more graduations are to be held in the coming weeks.