Margibi County—More than 700 grade school and university students sponsored under the China Union Concession Scholarship Program have presented certificates of appreciation to the management of Bangli, a subsidiary of China Union Mining Company, in recognition of its annual US$20,000 education support to communities affected by its mining operations.
By Yawah Y. Jaivey
The scholarship fund is an annual obligation under the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) between the Government of Liberia and China Union. The program, which supports students from affected communities in Margibi county, is being supervised by Margibi County District Four Representative Emmanuel O. Yahr.
At an appreciation program held over the weekend in Kakata, Margibi County, the Chairperson of the District’s 2025/2026 Academic Year Scholarship Committee, Pastor Morris Fahn Sr., disclosed that the committee received US$19,700 through SI Bank after a US$300 deduction in bank service charges.
He said the committee also received an additional US$650 in external support, bringing the total funds available under the District Four Tuition Assistance Program for the 2025/2026 Academic Year to US$20,350.
According to Pastor Fahn, a total of 780 students, comprising 392 males and 388 females, benefited from the scholarship program during the 2025/2026 academic year.
He added that the beneficiaries are also being enrolled for the ongoing 2026/2027 academic year.
Pastor Fahn presenting the certificate of appreciation to China Union’s Management on behalf of the beneficiaries, acknowledged the company’s financial commitment to supporting education in communities affected by its mining operations.
“In recognition of your two years of commitment to the payment of the China Union Scholarship Fund to the affected communities of your operation, your support has made a lasting impact on the lives of our youth and the future of District Four, Margibi County,” he stated.
Pastor Fahn expressed gratitude to Representative Yahr and China Union for providing financial assistance to children whose parents come from communities affected by the company’s mining activities and beyond.
Students Commend China Union, Representative Yahr
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Benjamin Kolleh, a student of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI), praised China Union and Representative Yahr for making the scholarship opportunity available to students.
Kolleh assured the company and the district’s leadership that the beneficiaries would make the most use of the opportunity by remaining committed to their education.
“We, the benefiting students, will make the maximum use of this scholarship opportunity being offered to us. We will study hard so that your cents and dollars will not be wasted. We assure you of that,” he vowed.
Another beneficiary, Abe Sheriff, a student of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Mission High School, also commended China Union for providing financial assistance to support students’ educational pursuits.
“We are grateful to China Union for being able to live up to its obligations under the MDA, especially by making the funds available to affected communities. Our parents appreciate your contributions,” Sheriff said.
He also praised Representative Yahr for ensuring that the scholarship benefits students from communities affected by the company’s operations.
Meanwhile, Socrate Emmanuel L. Massaquoi, a university student and scholarship recipient, described the financial assistance as invaluable, particularly amid Liberia’s difficult economic conditions.
Student Massaquoi said the support had eased some of the financial challenges facing students and expressed gratitude to China Union and the district’s leadership for investing in their education.
Yahr Describes Scholarship Program as a Fulfilled Promise
For his part, Representative Emmanuel O. Yahr described the scholarship program as the fulfillment of a commitment he made to the people of District Four while campaigning for the House of Representatives.
He said he was pleased that children from communities affected by China Union’s operations were benefiting from the annual fund intended to support those communities.
“We are joyful and grateful that children from communities affected by the China Union concession are benefiting from the funds provided for their communities. This is something I promised to do when I was seeking the representative seat here in our district,” Rep. Yahr said.
The lawmaker explained that channeling the annual US$20,000 community fund into scholarships was a deliberate decision intended to extend the benefits to a larger number of people through educational opportunities.
He expressed satisfaction that the initiative was helping students from affected communities pursue their academic ambitions.
Representative Yahr, however, urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and make the best use of the opportunity, warning that similar scholarship opportunities might not always be available.
He also commended the district stakeholders for supporting the decision to use the annual fund to finance scholarships for children from affected communities, describing education as an investment in the future of District Four and Margibi County at large.
China Union Reaffirms Commitment to MDA
Speaking after receiving the certificate of appreciation, Dong Yanbing, Manager of Bangli-China Union, expressed gratitude to the students for recognizing the company’s contribution to their education.
Speaking through an interpreter, Yanbing reaffirmed China Union’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Mineral Development Agreement, including the annual US$20,000 allocation for affected communities in Margibi County and similar commitments to other counties.
He said the company believes that investing in human development is essential to national progress and welcomed the decision by communities in Margibi County to prioritize education.
“We believe that human development is the best way for any nation to move forward. We are equally happy that the people of Margibi County are just doing so,” Yanbing said.