On November 9–10, 2017, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Laureate, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, paid an inspiring visit to the Rochas Foundation College of Africa (ROFOCA) in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The visit was more than a diplomatic gesture; it was a resounding endorsement of education as a pathway to peace, empowerment, and progress across Africa.
Madam Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president, was invited by Senator Rochas Okorocha, founder of the Rochas Foundation. Her visit aimed to deepen collaboration between the Rochas Foundation and Liberia while promoting a shared vision of uplifting Africa’s vulnerable children through access to free, quality education.
ROFOCA, established by the Foundation, is a unique institution that provides full scholarships to indigent and orphaned children from across the continent, including Liberia. The school’s mission, aptly named “Vision 2030,” is to take one million African children off the streets and into the classroom.
During her visit, Madam Sirleaf toured the school facilities, met with students, and held impactful discussions with faculty and administrators. She was visibly moved by the scale and ambition of the Foundation’s work, noting that many of the children at ROFOCA could have otherwise been lost to conflict, disease, or poverty.
I’ve never experienced anything like the Rochas Foundation. Children like these were conscripted into war; now they are in school, learning, dreaming, becoming, she said
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Former Liberian President
A major highlight of the visit was Madam Sirleaf’s address to the students of ROFOCA. Speaking with both warmth and urgency, she encouraged them to see education not just as a personal tool, but as a civic responsibility to their communities and countries. “Education is the panacea for poverty, disunity, and ignorance in Africa,” she stated.
Her visit resonated deeply with the students, many of whom come from backgrounds marked by hardship, and inspired a renewed sense of purpose among them. Madam Sirleaf’s life story from prison to presidency served as a living lesson in resilience, courage, and leadership.
A pivotal moment during the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Liberian government and the Rochas Foundation. This agreement solidified ongoing partnerships that will see the Foundation sponsor five Liberian students annually, among other collaborative efforts. To further cement this alliance, Senator Okorocha appointed Madam Sirleaf to the Board of Trustees of the Rochas Foundation College of Africa, a move hailed as a strategic step toward expanding the Foundation’s continental reach.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s visit was more than symbolic; it was a call to action. It underscored the urgency of investing in Africa’s youth and affirmed the role of education in shaping a peaceful, prosperous future. As ROFOCA continues to provide hope and opportunity to children across
Africa, the visit of one of the continent’s most respected leaders has helped galvanise support and spotlight its mission. With strong leadership, cross-border collaboration, and sustained commitment, the dream of lifting a million African children out of poverty is not only possible, it is within reach.
The visit of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the Rochas Foundation College of Africa stands as a testament to what can be achieved when leadership meets vision. It reminds us that Africa’s greatest resource is not its oil, minerals, or land, but its people. And when we educate them, we empower the continent to write a new narrative, one of dignity, unity, and limitless possibility.
