The Liberia Institute of Public Administration last Friday held its first cycle Graduation Ceremony at the University of Liberia auditorium.

Speaking at the ceremony, the representative of the National Social Security & Welfare Corporation Mr. Winston Q. Jah, Assistant Director General (ADG) for Public Information, Training and Education said "the Director General of the Corporation Mr. Dewitt vonBallmoos extends his profound greetings to the graduating class of LIPA especially the 11 Graduates that attended the six months intense training program." he went on to say, "this is Management's commitment and promise in building the professional skills of its employees by enrolling them to the Liberia institute of Public Administration (LIPA). Amongst the graduates from the Corporation were: Simon Karbah; Waylah J. Yehyee; Comfort Seville, Cecelia M. Dixon, George N. Nebo, Jr.; Samson Z. Campbell; Charles T. Smith; Eugene K. Welwolie; Trisha T. Sonpon, along side two others Jenneh K. Tamba & Miatta V. Fahnbulleh who self-sponsored themselves at the training program. The various areas of capacity building in the professional area included: Human Resource & Performance Management, monitoring & Evaluation, Procurement Section, and Public Policy Analysis.

During the ceremony, the keynote speaker Hon Elfrieda Steward Tamba Commissioner General of Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), spoke of the need of improving our professional skills in building the nation. In her address, she made mentioned of her first place of employ at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in the Revenue Department where she exemplified some of her professionalism before she was appointed to her present position.

She used the occasion to also thank the Institution and said, "I am committed in sending my staff to LIPA for professional training, in order to help build the image of the institution in the workplace and Liberia at large." She urged the graduates to apply their moral obligations and skills at their place of work in a professional manner.

Story by: The Public Affairs Department