IPNEWS – Human Right lawyer, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe has picked Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey-Yarkpawolo, a son of Zota District, Bong County, as his running mate for the October 10 Presidential and Legislative Elections. Cllr. Gongloe is the presidential aspirant of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP).
Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo’s selection brings to the fold two origins of the Central Liberian county of Bong, who are going to be contesting as running mates to two others. The other person is the incumbent Vice Presidential and former Senator of Bong County, Chief Suacoco Jewel Howard-Taylor, who hails from Sanoyea District.
Before this unofficial announcement has surfaced from some senior hierarchies of the LPP early this week, other names, including talkshow host Henry Costa, Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee, GSA Director General Mary Broh, etc, had been rumored to be chosen as running mate to the acclaimed rights lawyer. Since the news was spilled out, the LPP is yet to deny it.
It is not yet clear whether Cllr. Gongloe has already submitted the name of the 42-year-old Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo to the National Elections Commission (NEC) for onward processing and confirmation as his running mate as candidate nomination is now in process at the Commission.
Many weeks before this rumor had surfaced, the LPP running mate candidate had announced his intentions to contest for Bong County’s district #4 representative ticket. Some think tankers in the central Liberian county, had placed Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo in a very favorable spot to be the frontrunner in the district.
About Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo
Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo was born in Gomue, a small village near the Guinea border in District Number 4 in 1981. His mom, Gormah Yarkpawolo, passed away in 1983 when he was just two years old.
He grew up with his aunt, Nyamah Yarkpawolo. His father, Yarkpawolo Taylor, was one of the first persons to learn how to sew clothes in Bong County. Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo learned how to farm, fish, set traps and cut palms at an early age.
He learned from his father and his aunt early on that the purpose of life was to help others. His father would often advise him to be honest in his dealings with people, not to worry about material things but to appreciate God for what he has.
EDUCATION
“God will provide”, this was the answer that Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo gave to his father in 1995 when his father indicated that refugee schools in Guinea were free of charge but once the war was over in Liberia, and they returned, schools were not free in Liberia and he never had money as the war had destroyed all his properties.
In response, Emmanuel, who was given the Kpelle name “Kwakergbe” (“Let us be here”) but later gave himself the biblical name Emmanuel (God is with us), simply said “God will provide”. Yes, indeed God provided and is still providing today. He started school at the age of nearly 14 years in the Bheta Refugee Camp in Guinea in 1995.
Prior to starting school, his father sent him to an apprenticeship to become a traditional blacksmith. He spent two weeks in the blacksmith shop, ran away and returned to the refugee camp, where he later started school.
Ten years later in 2005, Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo graduated from high school as the dux winning eight awards out of 12 subjects and serving as Student Council President. Not only did he obtain his Bachelor’s Degree in 2008 from Cuttington University, but in the 10 years that followed, he added beneath his academic belt, a Master’s Degree in Public Health (2011) from Cuttington University, a Master’s of Science in Environment and Resources with emphasis in Political Ecology (2013) and a Ph.D. in the same field from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018.
Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo also holds a certificate of Leadership with Integrity from Les Aspin Center for Government in Washington D.C. and a certificate in Management & Entrepreneurship from Columbia University in New York.
Championing Land Rights Reform:
Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo’s commitment to his nation extends beyond academia. He recognized the importance of land rights reform in Liberia and actively engaged in the cause. Through his work as a consultant with Landesa, he provided valuable support to the Liberian government and civil society organizations in their efforts towards land reform. His Master’s thesis on land tenure reform and indigenous land rights influenced the drafting of the Land Rights Bill, a significant milestone in securing land rights for Liberian communities. Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo defended the bill and played a pivotal role in its successful passage into law. To further promote awareness and education, he hosts a radio program called “Land is Life,” empowering rural Liberians with knowledge about their land rights.
Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey-Yarkpawolo’s unwavering commitment to integrity, education, and land rights reform positions him as a catalyst for positive change in Liberia. His partnership with Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe as the INTEGRITY ONE team offers a promising path forward, harnessing their shared vision and expertise for the betterment of Liberia. As Liberia stands at a crossroads, Dr. Urey-Yarkpawolo’s story of determination, resilience, and a genuine desire for a brighter future serves as an inspiration to all.
