Monrovia – Many Liberians may not know that one of their compatriots worked so hard and efficiently for the establishment of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 1964 which is now a continental financial institution severing the development of all 54 African States with its offices in 35 members countries.
But recalling the pivotal role Liberia played in the formation of the AfDB, the bank’s Resident Representative to Liberia, Dr. Margaret Kilo emphasized how the late Liberian diplomat Romeo Horton led the initiative for the establishment of the AfDB.
However, Dr. Kilo told the 2015/2016 class of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI) that Liberians quota to the bank is not half met evidence by the limited presence of Liberians amongst the bank’s staff across all of the 35 offices with about 2,500 staff members.
“Unfortunately for me not as many Liberians are staff of the African Development Bank,” she said. “And we will be starting a recruitment drive; I encourage Liberians to look at the website to apply because your quota is not even half met in the African Development Bank.”
The AfDB Resident Representative to Liberia was serving as keynote speaker at the induction of officers-elect of the Development Diplomat Trainee held on Friday, June 24 in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She also explained to the class and an audience inclusive of members of the diplomatic corps, government officials including Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh, about the operations and mission of the bank clarifying that it is not a commercial bank as sometimes mistaken.
Madam Kilo disclosed to the young diplomat-in-training that the bank is spending US$ 378 million on 18 projects in Liberia and will shortly direct more resources toward the country’s energy sector which she termed as a very important project for countries like Liberia which are labeled by the bank as transitional countries that borrow money through a ‘special window’ for the implementation of development projects.
Young Diplomat Can Serve as Link
For the President of the class, as diplomat trainees, they have acquired skills to strengthen and coordinate between government and possible potential friendly nations and donor countries to ensure Liberia achieve maximum success.
Delivering her induction message, Ora Barclay-Keller added that young diplomat can maintain and serve as link between international actors and the Government of Liberia while appealing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to show fate in graduates of the FSI.
“…to fully utilize our expertise in other to facilitate the acquisition of foreign direct capita mobilization intended to supplement the national budget by supporting capacity development, institutional development and project stipulations through the direct investment, international investment and donors…, on a gender sensitive basis,” she said.
Stressing the challenge of being a female diplomat trainee who has to study and also cater for her kids and family, she describe s her role as leader of the class as ‘a sacrifice to embark on a great journey’.
She continue: “But this is a sacrifice that we all need to make to put our country on the right trajectory in other to make a continue stride for current and future generation,” said Barclay-Keller, who is also the Founder and CEO of the Girls for Change – a Paynesville based advocacy group working for marginalized teenage mothers. She also emphasized that young Liberians need to cultivate the altitude of service to their nation and the rest of the world.
Mrs. Barclay-Keller encourage public servants in diplomatic service to uplift women participation and forsake the sentiments and emotion of being a mother while serving her country and later underscored the lingering challenges and issues facing women participation in Liberia and the African Continent at large regardless the successes of the Millennium Development goals as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
Earlier, she thanked her class for giving her the opportunity to serve, committing that her leadership can face the challenge of leading the class by performing effectively.
‘Create Opportunity for Others’ – Acting MoFA Minister
But Acting Foreign Affairs Minister D. Elias Shoniyin, who told the audience that he’s a proud product of the FSI, called on the leadership of Diplomat Trainee class 2015/2016 not to assume leadership for themselves but the upliftment of the entire class saying opportunity should be given to people who are in most need.
“Sometimes we misunderstand our role as leader; sometimes we misunderstand why we’re being elected and sometimes we take it to be the best beneficiary of those that we serve,” Min. Shoniyin cautioned the newly inducted class officials. “But instead, I will suggest that as a leader you should be ready to make yourself last ….; most of the time we venture into these positions because we believe we will be accorded certain advantages over others.”
Serving as Induction Officer, Associate Justice Ja’neh encouraged the class leadership to work with its members despite challenges as he referenced the astute leadership of former United States President, Abraham Lincoln which is remembered in the American history.
Class Project Launched
Meanwhile, the class has launched three projects worth US$ 10,200.00 to be implemented over the next five months. The projects includes the setting up of a data Base system for trained diplomat professionals, the young diplomat magazine and the internship program which will link trained diplomats with opportunities to serve.
The leadership says it is seeking financial and moral support for the implementation of the projects. Several members of the diplomatic corps pledge their support while the AfDB promised to provide information resource capacity for the project, the MoFA assured its support and SEGAL Security Firm pledge US$2,000.00 to the class project.
Those inducted are Ora Barclay-Keller, President; Aliew B. Swaray, Vice President and Christine Tenneh-Dono as Secretary General. Others are: Olivia W. Weeks, Financial Secretary; Tharam Z. Quaye, Treasure and Jay Koryan Korlison as Chaplain.
The program was witnessed by Ambassadors and representatives of the US Embassy, France Embassy, and the Ambassadors of Nigeria, Cameroun, and South Africa.
The Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute is named after Liberia’s foreign Minister Gabriel L. Dennis; he served from 1944-1954 during the administration of William V.S Tubman. The FSI was established in 1951 as a professional training and research unit of the MoFA, for the exchange of ideas on political understanding of global economic relationship, cultural diversities integration and issues of conflict. A diploma of certificate is award to trainees after a nine month training program.