Cohort 7th of the Young Political Leadership School Africa (YPLS) opened in Monrovia with the Theme ‘Galvanizing Youth Leadership With Character Integrity, Humility, and Courage For Africa’ opened in Monrovia with several motivational speakers including former Liberian leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other high profiled diplomats voicing out their experiences acquired.
The YPLS was established to help address some of these issues with the overall goal to contribute to the formation of a new generation of character-driven political leader that would be accountable, responsive, and accessible to the needs and interest of citizens and to help shape the future of their respective countries in the positive direction.
This year gathering brought together dozens of potential young African leaders from Liberian and other West African countries to be tutored by well-respected motivational speakers from Liberia’s diplomatic enclave including H.E. Neil Bradley, Ambassador of the United Kingdom accredited to Liberia, H.E. Alyson Grunder, Charge’d’ Affairs of the United States Embassy, H.E. Ingrid Wetterqvist, Ambassador of Sweden accredited to Liberia and the former Liberian leader, H E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Earlier, Alphia Faith Kemokai, Program Coordinator of YPLS Africa on behalf of the Executive Director of NAYMOTE, Mr. Eddie D. Jarwolo, welcomed the delegates and participants including the motivational speakers, and noted that the absence of Mr. Jarwolo at the program was due to some serious engagements, and assured the participants the he will be available at a later time.
For her part, one of the sponsors of the program, the Country Officer of Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Madam Massa Crayton who poured praises on the founder of NAYMOTE, Eddie Jarwolo for his farsightedness in the establishment of YPLS empowering the continent’s future leaders.
All the motivational speakers who spoke on several issues aimed at molding the minds of these young professionals to becoming committed individuals urged them to serve as ambassadors for their respective countries and counties at the end of the Cohort 7th, and further urged young African leaders to be prepared to meeting those challenges in human development, respect for each other, and be ready at all times to work as a leader.
For her part, the former Liberian leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf thanked the organizers for such a unique and educational forum which she noted to mold the minds of young African leaders, noting, “We appreciate NAYMOTE for this initiative, and further pleased to pay tribute to Eddie Jarwolo and his team for their hard work in nourishing Africa’s future generation”.
The conference which runs from November 23 thru the 27, 2020 is been organized and funded by OSIWA, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and NAYMOTE is a the best and innovative way of grooming middle-level professionals into politics, governance, and helping them become transformational and servant leaders. It was established in April 2016, and has built the capacity of 530 young political leaders across West Africa.
YPLS alumni are actively involved as grass root leaders, managing their organizations effectively, one person is elected in local government in Ghana, six serving as Assistant Ministers in the Liberian government and some are leading activists and advocates. This event foster a collective platform to learn, share new ideas and provide innovative tools to improve leadership, teambuilding, time management, political campaign, communication, and professional networking skills.
Speakers and lecturers at Day two, November 24, 2020 of conference will include: Dr. Ibrahama Amadou Niag, Head of Guinea Country Office who will be speaking on the topic ‘Overview of electoral management and legal framework and other topics.
Others who will serve as Panels include Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, Vice Chairman, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) on ‘Learning to be a responsible leader on transparency, accountability and good governance, Yusador S. Gaye; Auditor General, General Auditing Commission (GAC), Augustine Flomo, Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and Mawine G. Diggs, Minister of Commerce.
on the last day of the conference, November 27, 2020, Senator G. Alphonso Gaye of Grand Gedeh County will lecture on ‘Understanding Legislative Politic, Personal Experience, while Oscar Bloh, Chairperson of the Election Coordinating Committee will lecture on ‘The Importance of Election Observation and Electoral Reform: The Case of the Election Coordinating Committee.
The Guest Speaker during the closing ceremony will be Mr. Carl Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC, the United States of America.
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