MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, delivered the keynote address to emerging diplomats of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI), calling on them to embody integrity, professionalism, and strategic leadership as Liberia seeks to reclaim its role on the African and global stage. Addressing the Institute’s 71st graduating class, the largest in its 74-year history, President Boakai said he was filled with “pride and admiration for its enduring legacy of excellence,” emphasizing that the occasion marked a pivotal moment for Liberia’s diplomatic future.
The President highlighted the uniqueness of this year’s graduation, which brought together graduates from the Regular Academic Program, the Madam Suakoko Graduate Program for Female Diplomats, and the six-week Refresher and Orientation Program for public officials. He described the Institute as a transformative institution, asserting, “The Institute does not merely train, it transforms.” He praised the FSI for upholding standards comparable to renowned diplomatic academies around the world, blending theoretical training with practical statecraft aimed at producing diplomats capable of navigating modern global complexities.
Boakai commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director General, and the faculty for recalibrating the Institute’s curriculum at a time when Liberia prepares to assume a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. He said partnerships with global institutions such as UNITAR, the Sierra Leonean Foreign Service Academy, the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Egypt were vital to ensuring that Liberia’s diplomats are equipped with a contemporary understanding of international affairs.
Addressing the graduates directly, the President said their newly acquired expertise was a national asset that transcends traditional diplomatic boundaries. “From this day forward, you carry the mantle of a Liberian diplomat, empowered to represent our nation’s interests and values with integrity, wisdom, and distinction,” he declared. He stressed that their role would be essential in safeguarding Liberia’s image and in navigating an increasingly volatile global landscape marked by economic instability, geopolitical tensions, climate change, and technological disruptions.
Boakai outlined a four-pillar mission for the graduates, beginning with the mandate to be “strong advocates for Liberia’s prosperity.” He urged them to embrace economic diplomacy as a core responsibility, promoting investment in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, tourism, and technology. He emphasized that the new Liberia they represent must project an image of innovation, stability, and opportunity to the global community.
The President then called on the new diplomats to be architects of regional peace, reminding them of Liberia’s transformation from conflict to post-war recovery. “Our hard-won peace is our most valuable asset. You are now its guardians,” he told the graduates, urging close collaboration with ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Mano River Union to strengthen cross-border security and champion regional integration.
Integrity, Boakai noted, remains the backbone of diplomatic service. “Reject the temptations of corruption in all its forms,” he cautioned. He said the title of diplomat carries immense privilege but relies fundamentally on trust, trust from the government and, more importantly, from the Liberian people. He emphasized that the character and conduct of each diplomat would reflect Liberia’s national reputation on the global stage. “You are the modern face of Liberia; let it be a face of honor, dignity, and principle,” the President said.
He encouraged the graduates to champion the ARREST Agenda, his administration’s development framework, which he described as Liberia’s blueprint for national renewal. Boakai urged the diplomats to ensure that Liberia stands out as a credible and forward-looking nation in the 21st century, grounded in resilience and guided by a strategic commitment to growth and good governance.
Citing Edward Wilmot Blyden, the President reminded the graduates that national greatness lies not in size but in the character of its people. “You now bear the responsibility of shaping Liberia’s character in the eyes of the world,” he said. He encouraged them to think beyond ceremonial duties, insisting that true diplomacy requires generating tangible benefits for Liberia through innovation, investment, and collaboration.
Boakai also stressed the importance of humility, strategic thinking, and adaptability in global affairs. He said the future of Liberia’s foreign policy now rests on the shoulders of the graduates, noting that the world they enter demands diplomats who can balance bold ideas with disciplined execution. He urged them to be proud yet cautious ambassadors of a “new Liberia, a Liberia of resilience, peace, and progressive ambition.”
The President closed with a blessing for the graduates, expressing confidence in their ability to navigate the challenges ahead. “I wish you God’s speed and wisdom in your future endeavors, and may God bless you, prosper the works of our hands, and save our Liberia,” he concluded.
