The Center for the Promotion of Intellectual Development (CENPID) celebrated its 35th anniversary with the induction of a new leadership over the weekend on Carey Street in central Monrovia.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, the Technical Advisor of the Family Health Division at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Abraham Jawara, challenged the new leadership of CENPID to remain focused to transform the growth and development of the organization.
Dr. Jawara stated that as an intellectual organization it should be voice for the voiceless within the Liberian society and maintain the need for the right things to be done in the country.
He underscored that CENPID should formulate programs to benefit communities through intellectualism to enlightens the ordinary citizens of the governance processes in Liberia.
He urged members of CENPID to support the leadership to enhance the progress and transformation of the organization, which was founded 35 years ago.
Dr. Jawara indicated that CENPID, through its advocacy over the years from the early 1990s, has been able to produce competent men who are contributing to national development in varied sectors of government and the private sector.
Meanwhile, the Senior Moderator of CENPID, Alfred Femoh Quayjandii, said the leadership will ensure that CENPID’s Board of Advisors have clear roles and responsibilities chosen amongst eminent personalities of diverse background.
Moderator Quayjandii stated that his administration will foster the culture of transparency and accountability as well as ethical behavior among its members.
According to him, there is the need to build the capacity of members through education and manpower development with training opportunities such as workshops, seminars conferences, including supporting research and policy analysis and leadership.
He underscored that resource is critical for the organization to function effectively, therefore due payment will be prioritized and the ability to attract and retain resources will be instituted.
Moderator Quayjandii explained that promoting transparency and accountability will be the hallmark of strengthening financial oversight to prevent fraud of the organization’s resources.
He asserted that CENPID will foster collaboration with professionals, universities, community colleges lecturers and the student community to enhance national debate and policy dialogues.
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of CENPID, Mitchell D. Jones, said CENPID should not compromise its stand on national issues which are affecting the citizenry and the nation.
Chairman Jones noted that CENPID has been, over the years, constructively speaking on national issues concerning past and current governments—since the 90s when the organization was founded to strengthen intellectualism in Liberia.
He recalled that when bullets were flying in the streets of Monrovia members of CENPID would meet and discuss current events unfolding around the country.
He pointed out that CENPID has remained on Carey Street, front of the meat shop, for 35 years now. Its members, he observed, are from different political parties but the intellectual body is not for any political party in Liberia.
Those inducted are Alfred F. Quayjandii, Senior Moderator; Bishop John N. Kai Sr., Assistant Moderator; Mohammed L. Kamara, Secretary General; James N. Cox, Assistant Secretary General; and Patrick W. Koffa, Treasurer.
