Wantoe Teah Wantoe

Wantoe Teah Wantoe (born December 24, 1994) is a Liberian scholar, youth rights advocate, and student leader known for his work in education reform, children's rights, diaspora youth mobilization, and his leadership roles at the University of Oxford. ^[1][2][3]

Wantoe was born in Liberia and has been publicly described as a long-time youth, and children advocate from a young age.^[4][2] He first received international recognition while active in youth advocacy and diaspora mobilization prior to pursuing graduate studies. ^[5][6]

Wantoe completed his undergraduate education in the United States, where his resume lists a double major in Public Policy and Sociology with concentration in criminology from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York.^[7][6]

He received a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford as a member of the MPP class of 2022.^[1] Following the MPP. he enrolled in the University of Oxford's MSc in Comparative and International Education and other continuing professional development.^[8]

According to a Frontpage Africa report, Wantoe received admissions from several graduate programs, including Oxford, Columbia SIPA, Johns Hopkins SAIS and NYU Wagner, and ultimately enrolled at Oxford. ^[9]

• Wantoe was elected to a senior student-union leadership position at the University of Oxford, serving as President (Postgraduate Officer / President for Postgraduates) of the Oxford Student Union for Postgraduates.^[10][11][12]
• As part of his student outreach, Wantoe created the Oxford Student Voice podcast, listed in the Oxford Podcasts series pages.^[13]

Wantoe has worked in youth mobilization, diaspora engagement, and education advocacy, and has spoken at national and international forums on children's rights and education.^[14] He founded or led initiatives such as Aspiring Liberian for National Transformation. which reported scholarship drives and diaspora engagement for Liberian students.^[4] He was a keynote speaker at the Academic Enrichment Seminar for the 23rd graduating class at the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) in Liberia in 2023.^[15] Wantoe has served on youth advisory or steering committees associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC) and has been described as a UN youth representative in multiple organizational descriptions.^[5][2][4] He is identified as executive director of the Center for African Policy in several speaker and organizational profiles.^{[14][16] [8]}

According to Frontpage Africa, In August 2020, residents of the People United Community publicly petitioned Wantoe to contest the vacant Montserrado County District 9 seat, citing leadership, humanitarian awards, and international advocacy. ^[17][18]

In May 2016, Wantoe delivered a preliminary address at the World Humanitarian Summit, where he acknowledged the efforts of United Nations agencies, the Government of Liberia, and civil society actors responding to the Ebola Virus Epidemic in Liberia. ^[19]

• In May 2022, Wantoe was named one of eight "Pacesetters for African Development" by African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) during Africa Day events at the United Nations Headquarters. ^[20][21]
• In August 2023, the Ministry of Education designated Wantoe as the National Orator for Liberia's 176th Flag Day. ^{[22][23][24][25][26]}
• In December 2023, Frontpage Africa and other regional news outlets reported that Wantoe was selected to receive a Global Education Advocate Award at the Liberia National Academic Excellence Awards for his work on nationwide study-abroad guidance and education programs. ^[14][27]