IPNEWS – Monrovia: Liberia’s Foreign Minister and Dean of the Cabinet, Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., who served as keynote speaker at the 69th graduation ceremony, admonished the graduates to remain focused and do their best in representing Liberia.
Amb. Kemayah added, “You have been molded by our best professors or instructors; go and make the difference and please have my profound congratulations.”
Delivering his Keynote Address on Friday, November 26, to the 45 graduates who underwent an intensive 9-month studies in diplomacy and international relations as prescribed by the Institute, the Liberian Chief Diplomat expressed thanked and appreciation to the faculty and staff of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute for selecting him as the Keynote Speaker for the occasion.
Foreign Minister Kemayah intoned that the 69th graduation ceremony which coincided with commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the FSI, is historic as it is the first under his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Kemayah added that the impact of the Covid_19 pandemic, which limited the capacities of the attendance of students and participations of professors, was a daunting challenge for continuity.
The Institute opened in January 28, 2020 and ran classes for six months; classes were halted on March 17, 2020. The Institute remained closed for nearly a year and recommenced in November, only to close again because of the resurgent of the virus. Classes resumed in April 2021 with full adherence to the health protocol, instituted by the Ministry of Health.
The Foreign Minister extended special gratitude to the Almighty God for allowing the institute to finally hold its graduation ceremony on November 26, 2021, nearly one and a half years later.
He spoke on the theme, “The Role of The Diplomatic Personnel in Enhancing the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development Amidst the Global COVID-19 Pandemic”.
“Allow me members of the graduating class to use this theme in the context of activities that are ongoing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he told the graduating class.
According to him, ongoing reformed activities at the Ministry are linked to the execution of the Foreign Policy objective of President George Manneh Weah and as enshrined in the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
“Since my appointment on September 29, 2020, by Dr. George Manneh Weah and subsequently on October 6, 2020 when I assumed the duties and responsibilities as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet, several measures have been introduced under the reformed agenda for the enhancement of the Foreign Policy Agenda of President George Manneh Weah,” Minister Kemayah stated.
The Foreign Minister also noted that his administration embarked on the introduction of rigorous reforms to be used as a tool for image building, productivities, cost effectiveness, cost benefits, efficiency, transparency, accountability, added value for tax-payers’ money, equal opportunity for all, personnel welfare, stronger sense of belongingness as well as the basis for functional transformation for development.
He said one of his administration’s targets is human resource development including the training of personnel to improve performance and ensure high level productivities.
He paid special tribute to the late Secretary of State, Gabriel L. Dennis, under whose administration the Foreign Service Institute was established, as well as other Secretary of States and Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Liberia for their sustained supports to the Institute for the enhancement of the nation’s foreign policy objectives.
The 2020/2021 graduation exercise is the 69th Commencement ceremony since the establishment of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute. The 45 graduates comprised 13 females and 32 males. The 2020/2021 graduating class went beyond the prescribed 9-month training program due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 69th graduation exercise coincided with the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute.
The colorful ceremony was held in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, the 45 candidates obtained Post-Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Development Diplomacy.
The ceremony also witnessed the graduation of two senior government officials, including Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue and Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) Director General Mrs. Estella Liberty Kamoh.
The two trainees graduated with distinction leaving indelible marks at the institution. Both Sudue and Mrs. Kamoh graduated as Valedictorian and Salutatorian respectively.
Earlier, the Acting Director General of FSI, Mr. Romongar Dennis, presented the graduates to the Foreign Minister for endorsement.
Director Dennis said 78 persons had applied to be enrolled but after “a rigorous testing, scrutiny and screening process, 54 applicants were qualified and admitted.
The Acting DG also stated that they are trying to equip the library with modern textbooks.
“We ask the graduates to go and serve well whenever there are opportunities in the future to serve Liberia.”
Also speaking at the occasion on behalf of his fellow graduates, the Valedictorian of the Class, IG Patrick T. Sudue Commended President George Manneh and Foreign Min. Kemayah for their unwavering support to the FSI.
He indicated that the actual duration for the training program is proximately nine months but unfortunately, their class lasted for one year eight months due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
He added that their prolong stay at the FSI due to the COVID-19, has also tested and strengthened their abilities to be patient and remain focused during a pandemic period.
According to him, the training acquired has given them the technical knowhow to represent and protect Liberia’s interest anywhere they go.
“As trained diplomats, we are required to use the necessary skills to enable us initiate and facilitate policy strategies on treaties, and conventions and to enhance trade and commerce negotiation in order to promote Liberia’s image internationally,” he stated.
The Gabriel L. Foreign Service Institute was named in Honor of Liberia’s Secretary of State Honorable Gabriel L. Dennis, who served as Secretary of State from 1944-1954.
The institute was established in 1951 as a professional training and research unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
