The Banking Institute of Liberia (BIL), the training arm of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the Liberia Bankers Association (LBA), has graduated 156 professionals from its Professional Development Training Program and Business Enterprise Development Initiative to enhance service delivery in Liberia’s banking and financial sectors.
The graduation ceremony, held over the weekend at the Monrovia Christian Fellowship Church, brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Liberia, private financial experts, graduates, and their families.
BIL offers two major career development programs: Professional Development Training Program – Designed to enhance the skills and expertise of financial professionals.
Business Enterprise Development Program – Provides knowledge and support for individuals interested in entering the banking, finance, and development sectors.
The institute focuses on upgrading professional competencies in banking and finance, internal audit and controls, procurement and supply chain management, digital banking, risk management, and financial services administration.
After an intensive five-month training, graduates received diplomas in specialized areas, including: Banking and Finance, Internal Audit and Controls, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Marketing and Digital Banking.
Others include Corporate Risk and Compliance Management, Human Resource and Customer Relationship Management, Public Accounting and Finance and Computerized Accounting.
In his special remarks, the Executive Director of BIL, Richard S. Panton, expressed excitement over the successful completion of the second training cycle.
He emphasized that the program is designed to build capacity and enhance service efficiency in Liberia’s financial sector.
Prof. Panton urged graduates to demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and excellence in their work, stressing the importance of effective customer service delivery.
He also called on the Government of Liberia, particularly the Ministry of Education, to introduce life skills education as a means to combat poverty and reduce youth unemployment.
“Today marks another milestone, and we thank the Central Bank of Liberia and the Liberia Bankers Association for their continued support. This support is a testament to our commitment to building capacity and improving performance in the financial sector,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of CBL Executive Governor-designate, Mr. Musa Kamara, commended BIL for its efforts in strengthening the financial sector through education and training.
He assured CBL’s commitment to supporting the institute in training Liberians to take leadership roles in the banking and financial sector, addressing concerns over the influx of foreign professionals in the industry.
“We saw that many foreign banks were coming into Liberia with foreign staff. That was not the future we envisioned, so we created BIL to train individuals who will take over the sector’s administrative and managerial roles. Seeing this program grow is truly exciting, as it ensures Liberians are being trained to lead with integrity and professionalism,” he stated.
The graduation marks another step in Liberia’s efforts to build a skilled workforce in banking and finance.
With continued support from CBL and LBA, BIL aims to expand its training programs to equip more professionals with the expertise needed to enhance financial services and economic development in the country.