Speech by President Elias L. Warrak In the Inauguration of the High-tech Seedling Nursery IFFT – Akkar Campus

Mr. Douglass Balco - Economic Growth Director (USAID),
Mrs. Celine Melki - Chief of Party (LINQ project - Land o' lakes)
Dear colleagues at the University of Balamand,
Esteemed guests,

I am pleased and honored to welcome you today in our Balamand Campus in Beino, Akkar to celebrate the Inauguration of the project of the High-Tech Seedling Nursery. This project aims primarily to improve the work conditions of farmers in Akkar and empowering them to endure the many challenges facing the Lebanese agricultural sector.

This occasion is dear to my heart for its impact on the community, with which I share unforgettable memories and where I spent memorable summer vacations during my school years.

I have always professed my complete allegiance to Lebanon, and Akkar in specific, is very dear to my heart as it represents my alma mater, to whom I owe most of my ethical norms, moral commitments, and the sense of social responsibility.

We are gathered here today to emphasize again and again that even in the darkest hours of the most challenging times, we can create golden opportunities.

Opportunities to enhance sustainable development goals,
Opportunities to enhance the visibility of a neglected community by highlighting the potential of its creativity,
Opportunities to prove once again that we are a peculiar breed that can be killed a thousand times, only to rise again and be reborn a thousand times more.

We at the University of Balamand believe in the role of the agricultural sector in rebuilding the essence of our country that has been exhausted by successive conflicts, mismanagement, and rampant corruption. Therefore, the University is determined to invest in agricultural development, whether at the academic level or through directly supporting projects like the one we are launching today.

In this context, I can only express my profound appreciation and sincere gratitude to the USAID-LINQ team led by Mr. Douglas Balco and Ms. Celine Melki, for their belief in our institution and for their effort and support in turning this remarkable dream into a palpable reality. We hope that this collaboration extends to encompass all aspects of our academic programs as we are definitely eager for more projects to follow. Like Winston Churchill once said: “It is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning”. I also would like to thank the UOB team headed by Dean Elie Karam and Dr. Rodrigue Balaa for their relentless work and dedication.

In these grim times, we cannot lose hope or surrender to despair. We shall strive to turn these subsequent crises into promising opportunities for growth. Having partners like USAID would certainly make this endeavor worthwhile.

I can assure you that the University of Balamand will always keep its promises, will always respect its obligations, will always persist, resist, and ultimately prevail.
May God bless all the helping hands, and May God bless Lebanon and lessen its agony.