By Laurina B. Lormia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) through the Director General of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Reginald B. Goodridge has re-launched and endorsed the Ambassadorial Lecture and Seminar Series.
The program was held on Friday, May 2, 2025 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was named in honor of Ambassador George W. Wallace, Senior Advisor to President Joseph Boakai and former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The decision to designate the lecture series in his name was made in consultation with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti and senior officials of the Ministry.
Ambassador Wallace, widely revered for his decades of service to Liberia and his immense contributions to diplomacy, is recognized as one of the country’s foremost statesmen.
The newly designated lecture series will serve as a platform to share knowledge, engage aspiring diplomats, and elevate discourse on Liberia’s foreign policy and international engagement.
Making remarks, the Director General of FSI, Reginald B. Goodridge, emphasized that the objectives for launching the Ambassadorial Lecture and Seminar Series is part of their grand design to cultivate a broader understanding of diplomacy and international affairs for their students and to align with the curriculum at the FSI.
According to him, diplomacy is the key to development and prosperity of the nation.
It is for this reason that they have brought on board some of the finest professors and instructors, and diversified their curriculum to include subjects on transformational leadership, climate change, international finance and marketing, cyber security, environmental diplomacy and feminism.
He added that the FIS’ admissions process is quite rigorous.
Applicants must show evidence of a first degree, score a minimum of 65 percent in their entrance exam, be subjected to a pre-admissions interview by a panel of instructors and maintain a minimum of 3.0 GPA to remain in the institute.
Adding, we are very keen on strict discipline, personal hygiene, appropriate dress code, and exacting rules of engagement in formal and informal settings.
“Forty-nine percent of applicants currently in the institute are females.
Therefore, in line with the UN Feminist Foreign Policy Agenda, which Liberia is the only nation in Africa thus far to have embraced, we have developed a structure, and formulated a curriculum to establish the ‘Madam Suakoko Graduate Program for Female Diplomats, he noted.
He lamented that Madam Suakokonei is believed to be the first woman Liberian tribal chief and warrior who negotiated to grant accession of the territory that she ruled over to the Liberian government.
She also advanced academia by assisting a large team of scientists from Harvard University in 1926 to conduct research in Liberia on tropical diseases.
“Madam Suakoko was truly a forerunner for female ascendancy in the governance of Liberia, in politics, social reform, peace, security, and conflict resolution.
We believe that there is no better way to honor this icon of historical significance than to name a diplomatic program in her honor,” he stressed.
He however, thanked President Boakai for his lecture on the ARREST Agenda and Foreign Policy Initiatives.
Adding, your government will serve as a guide post for all of us as we aspire to transform our institute into a premier Think Tank and Research Academy to help you restore Liberia’s diplomatic soft power and reassert our unique position on regional and global affairs.
“As the Chief Architect of Liberia’s foreign policy, “we want to applaud you for your leadership, humility, patience, integrity, determination and self-esteem, all of which are hallmarks of a true diplomat, which we hope every aspiring diplomat here and, in the future, will emulate,” he narrated.
He also appreciated President Boakai for his confidence in the institute, emphasizing, many of your appointees in the Foreign Service have reported that you insist they undergo training in the FSI before taking up their assignment.
He mentioned that the school offers a 6-week intensive refresher and orientation program for newly appointed foreign service personnel and other professionals who desire to gain an insight into diplomacy.
An Executive Certificate is issued at the end of the program, we also offer a 10-month intensive academic program leading to the awarding of a post graduate diploma.
Hopefully, this will be elevated to a Master’s Degree program in the near future.
“Next year, Mr. President, January 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, the oldest such institution in Africa.
In commemoration of this milestone, we envisage organizing an international conference in which Foreign Service Institutes from across Africa will be invited to participate,” he said.
“Our goal is to invite specialists from across Africa and beyond to come to Monrovia, and deliberate on the rapidly changing trends of global power dynamics, diplomacy, and Africa’s place in the new world order,” He concluded
Speaking on behalf of the student body, Zark Whapoe extended thanks to President Joseph Boakai, for re-launching the series, emphasizing that his presence underscored the importance of diplomacy in national development and inspired students to pursue excellence in their future roles.
According to him, this event has not only enriched the students’ understanding but also reinforced their commitment to serving Liberia with distinction, calling on his colleagues to continue to build upon this foundation and work collaboratively towards a more peaceful and prosperous world.
He urged them to embrace the lessons learned during the launch and strive to embody the principles of integrity, service, and professionalism in all their endeavors.
Mr. Whapoe also recognized Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti for her visionary leadership and commitment to advancing Liberia’s foreign policy, as well as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for providing insightful perspectives on global diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Student Whapoe has also acknowledged the United Nations Development Programme for its ongoing support, esteemed faculty, for imparting knowledge and fostering critical thinking in equipping students with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of diplomacy. He further thanked the Director General of the FSI, Reginald B. Goodridge, whose leadership has been credited for revitalizing the institute and setting the stage for a master’s degree program.
