The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., who served as keynote speaker at the 69th graduation ceremony admonished the graduates of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to remain focused and do their best in representing Liberia. “You have been molded by our best professors or instructors; go and make the difference, and please have my profound congratulations,” Minister Kemayah exhorted the graduates.
Delivering his keynote address on Friday, November 26, 2021 to 45 trainee-graduates who underwent an intensive 9-month studies in diplomacy and international relations, as prescribed by the institute, the Liberian chief diplomat expressed thanks 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 the 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 of the Republic of Liberia.
Minister Kemayah added that the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the conduct of classes, which limited the capacities of the attendance of students and participation of professors, was a daunting challenge for continuity.
He added, “The institute opened in January 28, 2020 and classes ran for six months, but classes were later halted on March 17, 2020 because of the CIVID-19 pandemic; it remained closed for nearly a year. The institute recommenced classes in November, only to close again because of the resurgent of the covid-19; classes resumed in April 2021, with full adherence to the health protocol instituted by the Ministry of Health in the fight against the covid-19 Pandemic”
He 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.
Foreign Minister Kemayah 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 on-going at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he told the graduating class.
He said the reform taking place at the ministry are linked to the execution of the foreign policy objective of His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, as ensnared into the “Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development” of the ruling Coalition For Democratic Change (CDC).
“Since my appointment on September 29, 2020 by H. E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of Liberia, for which my family and I remain appreciative, 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 reform agenda for the enhancement of the foreign policy agenda of President. George Manneh Weah,” Minister Kemayah disclosed.
The Liberian Foreign Minister and keynote speaker also noted that his administration embarked on the introduction of a rigorous reform to be used as a tool for image building, productivity, 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 late Secretary of State Gabriel L. Dennis, under whose administration the Foreign Service Institute, FSI 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 45graduates comprised of 13 female candidates and 32 male trainees. 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 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 official including Police Inspector General Hon. Patrick T Sudue and LBS Director General Mrs. Estella Liberty Kamoh who were among members of the graduating class.
The two trainees graduated with distinction leaving indelible marks at the institution. Both honorable Sudue and Madam Kamoh graduated as Valedictorian and Salutatorian respectively.
Earlier, the Acting Director General of the FSI, Hon. Romongar Dennis presented the proposed graduates to the Foreign Minister for endorsement and used the occasion to give an overview of the program, adding “we are pleased to welcome all of our guests to this 69th graduation ceremony of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute.
He disclosed that the 69th commencement convocation also coincided with the 70th anniversary of the embellishment of the FSI of the republic Liberia.
Director Dennis noted the class which is being proposed by his administration graduation grew out of an application of 78 individuals who applied to study at the institute.
The Acting DG indicated that after a rigorous testing, scrutiny and screening process, the result shows that 54 of the applicants were indeed qualified and admitted to undergo studies at the G L Dennis Foreign Service institute, FSI in pursuit of Post-Graduate Diploma in diplomacy and international relations stressing that other candidates dropped for various reasons including the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, the trainees who met the requirements for graduation are basically Liberians from both the public and private sectors.
The Acting DG also stated that his institute is moving towards equipping the Library with modern text books in order to provide the necessary materials for teaching so as to keep the program strong and effective, Adding, we are doing this to support our nation in the context that it remains strong intellectually to compute and contribute essentially to national and international developments.
The Acting Director expressed confidence that Liberia will gain prosperity and remain prosperous with manpower development in the best interest of the country, “we ask the graduates to go and serve well whenever they seize opportunities in the future to serve Liberia, he concluded.
Also speaking at the occasion on behalf of his fellow graduates, the Valedictorian of the Class, Hon. Patrick T. Sudue Commended President George Manneh and Foreign Monster Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., 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 which lakes the class exceptional.
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.
He said the training acquired from the Gabriel L Dennus Foreign Service Insttute has given them the knowledge how to represent and protect Iberia’s interest anywhere they go.
“As trained diplomats, we are required to use the necessary skills to enable us initiate and facility policies strategies on treaty , and convention and to enhance trade and commerce negotiation in order to promote Liberia ‘s image internationally” .
He expressed gratitude to the instructional staff and faculty members of the FSI for the knowledge they imparted in them, adding “we pledge our readiness, dedication, and commitment to diligently serve in the Liberian Foreign Service.
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.