President Joseph N. Boakai has called on Liberia’s newly trained diplomats to lead the nation’s renewed drive toward international respect and global influence, urging them to embody integrity, professionalism, and patriotic service as they represent Liberia on the world stage. Delivering the keynote address on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the 71st Graduation Ceremony of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI) at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, President Boakai described the graduating class as “the torchbearers of a new era of Liberian diplomacy.”
The President hailed the 120 graduates as the largest class in the institute’s 74-year history, noting that their training marks a defining moment in Liberia’s efforts to reclaim its historic reputation as a leader in African and global diplomacy. “This ceremony is not just a celebration of academic achievement. It represents Liberia’s renewed commitment to reclaim its place as a leading force of African diplomacy on the global stage,” he stated.
Boakai commended the FSI’s three-tiered program structure, which includes the Regular Academic Program, the Madam Suakoko Graduate Program for Female Diplomats, and the Refresher and Orientation Program for elected and appointed officials, describing it as a comprehensive platform for nurturing a new generation of professional diplomats.
The Liberian leader, however, praised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director General, and the FSI administration for reforming and rebranding the Institute at a time when Liberia is poised to play a more active role internationally, including its pending service as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
He said, “The Institute does not merely train, it transforms. Its graduates emerge not only as representatives of Liberia but as architects of its expanding global influence.” President Boakai lauded the FSI’s growing partnerships with international institutions such as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Foreign Service Academy of Sierra Leone, the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Egypt; saying, those collaborations ensure Liberia’s diplomats are “globally attuned, professionally refined, and regionally connected.”
Turning to the graduates, President Boakai emphasized that their training was more than an academic pursuit; it was a call to service. “From this day forward, he told them, “You carry the mantle of a Liberian diplomat, empowered to represent our nation’s interests and values with integrity, wisdom, and distinction.”
He outlined four core pillars for the graduates to uphold as they begin their careers, which include advocating for Liberia’s prosperity, promoting peace and regional stability, upholding integrity and service, and championing the ARREST Agenda, the government’s national development framework focused on agriculture, roads, the rule of law, education, sanitation, and tourism.
As advocates for Liberia’s prosperity, Boakai charged the new diplomats to prioritize economic diplomacy, stressing the need to attract investment, promote Liberian products, and strengthen partnerships that create opportunities for the nation’s youthful population. “Move beyond traditional diplomacy. Be at the forefront of attracting responsible investment and championing our key sectors, from agriculture and mining to tourism and technology,” he explained.
On regional stability, President Boakai reminded the graduates of Liberia’s post-war transformation and its duty to share lessons of peace with neighboring nations.
Boakai, “Our hard-won peace is our most valuable asset,” he said. “You are now its guardians. Champion regional integration and promote Liberia as a credible partner for stability within ECOWAS, the MRU, and the African Union.” In his charge for integrity, he warned against corruption, calling it a betrayal of public trust. “The title ‘Diplomat’ is one of great privilege but founded on trust, the trust of your government and the Liberian people. Let your conduct reflect honor, dignity, and principle.
Referencing the words of Edward Wilmot Blyden, the President reminded the graduates that a nation’s greatness lies not in its 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 stated. Moreover, the President encouraged the graduates to be diplomats who “bring tangible benefits to Liberia” rather than simply attending official ceremonies abroad. “Be the advocates who forge partnerships, not just seek aid; urging them to be the representatives who make every Liberian proud to say, ‘that is my kind of diplomat.’
Meanwhile, he urged the graduates to approach their duties with humility, courage, and vision. “Be bold in your ideas, wise in your counsel, firm in your principles, and flexible in your methods,” he said. “Be proud ambassadors of the new Liberia, a Liberia of resilience, peace, and progressive ambition.”
