President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. received a representative leadership delegation of the students of the University of Liberia at the Executive Mansion on July 2, 2024.

The student delegation, led by the current University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) President Mary Korpo Kerkula, included leaders of the Student Integration Movement (SIM), the Student Democratic Alliance (STUDA), the Progressive Student Alliance (PROSA), the Varsity Christian Fellowship, and the University of Liberia Muslim Student Association. Miss Kerkula leads the Student Unification Party (SUP).

In their presentation to the Liberian Leader, the students, through their spokesperson Kerkula, commended President Boakai for addressing the University discord. They then presented six key areas of critical concern for the government’s attention.

Key among the challenges are the need for the University of Liberia Administration to improve facilities, carry out renovation works on the University’s campuses, and take tangible steps to upgrading the laboratories, provide tools, and upgrade the libraries with materials meeting international standards.

The students also stressed the importance of providing internet connectivity to the University of Liberia Student Union Resource Center, which would give students access to digital space and ease their communication problems.

Furthermore, the students emphasized the necessity of internship opportunities, scholarships, and student exchange programs. They also urged for the facilities at the University to be made handicap-friendly to ease the mobility challenges faced by physically challenged students.

In response, the President acknowledged the pivotal role the University of Liberia played in the nation’s development and as a safe haven for refugee students from warring African countries.

He expressed his commitment to providing an improved and conducive learning environment, especially at the University of Liberia.

The President advised the students that problem solving does not lie in ultimatums and violence, assuring them of his commitment to open communication.

He also addressed the issues of scholarships and disability accessibility.

Chairman of the University Board of Trustees, Grand Kru County Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa, reported that the atmosphere on the campuses of the University of Liberia has significantly improved since the President and Visitor to the University took measures to restore calm.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. on Thursday, July 4, 2024, presided over his Administration’s first Inter-Ministerial Committee on Decentralization Meeting held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

The President highlighted the importance of advancing the decentralization program in Liberia to improve service delivery to all citizens. He emphasized the government’s commitment to driving the decentralization program forward by outlining specific measures to overcome the challenges hindering the decentralization reform efforts.

He highlighted the need to implement the Revenue Sharing Act, particularly Chapter 7.2, which calls for the retention of 40% of all revenues generated at County Service Centers.

This step, the President lamented, aims to address financial challenges that have affected the efficient operations of the County Service Centers.

Additionally, he directed all sector Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions related to the County Service Centers to devolve approvals and signing authorities to their respective representatives at the subnational level.

This Inter-Ministerial Meeting was in furtherance of his message in his State of the Nation Address on January 29, 2024, in which he informed the nation about, amongst other things, his Legislative Agenda which included the Bill seeking for the establishment of the Ministry of Local Government. He pointed out that the creation of that Ministry is aimed at advancing modalities to operationalize the Local Government Act passed in 2018 and to drive the Government’s decentralization program.

The Liberian Leader said the decision intends to enhance service delivery and reduce transaction costs for citizens, eliminating the need for them to travel to Monrovia for signatories and documentation processes.

He further expressed gratitude to the leadership of the different ministries and encouraged them to strengthen coordination, even at the county level, to contribute to the cumulative impact of the decentralization program.

He also acknowledged the continuous support of development partners and sought stronger collaboration and coordination as the government continues the decentralization journey in the best interest of the citizens and people of Liberia.

The President concluded by emphasizing government’s commitment to the decentralization program and encouraged unity and collaboration in building a better Liberia.

The President expressed a strong political will to advance the decentralization program, signaling a pivotal step towards enhancing governance at the subnational level and improving service delivery for the people of Liberia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

President Wavel Ramkalawan, joined by the Minister for Youth, Sport and Family, Marie-Céline Zialor, visited the Home Care Agency’s (HCS) new office in the Unity House Building in Victoria this morning.

During his visit to the Agency, the President toured various departments, including the Registration and Monitoring offices. He interacted with the staff, gaining insights into their work and understanding some of the challenges they face.

In his statement following the visit, President Wavel Ramkalawan praised the hard work of the Home Care Agency and encouraged the staff to continue their dedicated efforts to meet the needs of the community. He expressed great satisfaction with the visit, noting that it provided valuable insights into several challenges and highlighted key areas for improvement moving forward.

On behalf of the Home Care Agency, Chief Executive Officer Daniel Kallee described the visit as a great privilege and an encouragement for the Agency. He emphasized that it was an opportunity to inform the Head of State about the services they provide and their future objectives.

Also in attendance were the Chairperson of the Board of the Home Care Agency, Marie Celine Malbrook, Vice Chairperson Bryan Julie, and other board members and staff of the Agency. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

The commemorative ceremony witnessed presentation of local research papers on diverse relevant topics, and panel discussion on the national context of the Theme of the Day World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed globally on the 17th of June. This year, the Day was internationally observed in Bonn, Germany, for the 30th time under the theme, “United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future”.

In Eritrea, the commemoration of the event, which was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), took place on the 18th of June in Asmara, National Confederation of Eritrean Workers’ Hall and was attended by around one hundred participants, including senior MoA officials, representatives of relevant line ministries, regional administrations, national associations, higher educational institutions, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Eritrea, FAO, stakeholders from several development programs, agriculture experts and farmers, among others.

Delivering a key note speech of the event, representing the MoA, Mr. Semere Amlesom, the Director General of the Agricultural Extension Department of the ministry, stated that the annual event calls for everyone to enhance participation in the endeavors being exerted towards restoring degraded land and combating desertification so as to leave safe land to next generations. Pointing out that the livelihood of more than 3.2 billion people of the global population is at stake due to desertification, land degradation and drought, he explained that the most vulnerable people constitute rural agrarian communities and small-scale farmers, and that the dire consequences thereof are poverty, hunger, unemployment and migration. Mr. Semere further indicated that soil and water conservation as well as afforestation programs are being pursued as the cornerstone of national strategic policies, and called for stepped-up and integrated efforts on the part of pertinent bodies, including members of the national defense forces, local communities and experts for a more impacting outcome in this area.

Speaking on the occasion representing the UNDP office in Eritrea, Ms. Nashida Sattar, the Officer in Charge of the office, said, “We are aware of the considerable resources and strong community participation invested by Eritrea pursuing soil and water conservation, construction of water reservoirs, enhancement of agricultural productivity, and sustainable land management”. Ms. Nashida went on indicating that the occasion serves as an opportunity to discuss and recognize Eritrea’s human-led solutions that were put in place to adapt its capacities since independence, and that the Government of Eritrea, through its legislative as well as policy frameworks, has been playing an active role to solidify its engagements to this effect. She also reiterated the UNDP’s readiness to enhance partnership and support in the efforts Eritrea is putting up towards ensuring long-term resilience, as well as environmental and social justice.

Moreover, five thematically relevant research papers were presented on the occasion, preceded by a question-and-answer session.

List of Research Papers Presented in Connection with the Event

– “UNCCD: Eritrea’s Commitments and Experience in Combating Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought,” Presented by Mr. Michael Berhane, from the Agricultural Extension Division (AED), MoA

– “Drought Monitoring, Forecasting and Impact Assessment,” Presented by Mr. Tekeste Weldegebriel, from the Agricultural Strategic Information Systems Division (ASISD), MoA

– “Regulating Salinization and Land Degradation,” Presented by Mr. Dawit Tesfai, from the Regulatory Services Department (RSD), MoA “Role of Agroforestry Systems in Combating Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought,” Presented by Mr. Zerai Sultan, from the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), MoA

– “The Date Palm and its Role in Combating Desertification and Climate Change,” Presented by Mr. Mussie Fekadu, from the NARI, MoA

On the other hand, a panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Amanuel Ghebrai, a Journalist working for Dimtsi Hafash Radio Program, was an integral and crucial part of the event. The panelists were Dr. Seife 

Berhe, a Geologist who conducted a number of researches on environment; Dr. Weldeslassie Okubazghi, from Hamelmalo Agricultural College, and Mr. Estifanos Beyin, Senior Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation Expert in the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment.

Subsequently, the participants of the event held extensive discussion and exchanged views on a number of important issues. Finally, a number of comments and recommendations were forwarded, and deliberations from the participants of the event were as follows: The need for emphasizing on policies that encourage sustainable land use rather than those that are prohibitive; focusing on the merits of adherence to the 1994 – land proclamation that encourages communal land protection through higher sense of ownership; integrating action plans and information systems of pertinent bodies; sharing research results; reinforcing backyard agroforestry activities and traditional agroforestry practices; integrating National Date Palm Development Program with other national programs; solidifying action plan for management of prosopis trees (AKA: Temri Musa), as well as enhancing monitoring and evaluation capacities along the entire cycle of afforestation programs, especially following the plantation of seedlings.

During the event, a flyer which adressed national and international challenges and opportunities with regards to Desertification and Drought was distributed to participants. Meanwhile, a short video on Eritrea’s ongoing accomplishments in soil and water conservation, as well as construction of water reservoirs, along with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Gutteres’ official video message on the Day, were displayed at the occasion.

Participants agreed that, the annual commemoration of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is vital in promoting public awareness on a number of related issues.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.