The Board of Directors of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), after a rigorous and competitive process has nominated Richelieu O. Burphy as the new Deputy Director-General for Technical Services at the NLA.
The Board, in their appointment, called on Burphy and other appointed officials of government to continue to demonstrate diligence, commitment, integrity, professionalism, and loyalty in their service to country.
His appointment comes at a crucial time for the country, as the government seeks to enhance transparency, efficiency, and public trust in the lottery system and also generate more revenue for the operations of government.
Burphy, a seasoned professional with over 17 years’ experience serving in the private sector, is expected to bring a fresh perspective and innovative strategies to the NLA, as his vision for rebranding Liberia’s lottery sector is centered on modernizing operations, improving regulatory frameworks, and fostering a culture of accountability and integrity.
Burphy is one of Liberia’s most prominent communications specialist and Land right expert with vast knowledge in administration and management.
He has also worked with several leading International NGOs including Plan International, Education Development Center, MercyCorps, Tetra Tech and ECODIT, providing his expertise on wide range of issues including community engagements and mobilization, project implementation and management and overall management and administration.
Born in the suburb of Jacob Town in Paynesville, he fled into safety during the outbreak of the civil war and lived as a refugee for about 20 years before returning to Liberia in 2012 to join the efforts in restoring hope to the people of Liberia through nation-building.
Burphy is a Liberian with a flair for creativity, hard work and determination.
He is currently a student at the Louis Arthur School of law and has earned lots of professional papers through training and workshop.
He has a certificate in Public Financial Management from the IMF, online certificate in Contract Law from Harvard University and lots of other professional papers.
Prior to his appointment, Burphy currently serves at ECODIT as Community Land Tenure Specialist.
Previously, he also served as Community Engagement Specialist at Tetra Tech, Digital Outreach and Communications Manager at MercyCorps, Communications and Media Manager at Plan International, Program Support Manager at ForumCiv and Project Communications Coordinator at Education Development Center.
In all these roles, Burphy provided strategic leadership and managerial oversight in all these organizations where he worked, and over the years, he has accumulated skills in managing people, project implementation and supervision as well as leadership.
He is the founder of Smile With the Future; a village outreach and charity initiative that supplies educational materials and food supplies to children and marginalized people in rural communities across Liberia.
In an exclusive interview with this paper following his appointment, Burphy expressed gratitude for the opportunity and outlined his vision for the future of the lottery in Liberia, working with his colleagues and other employees at the NLA.
He said, “I am honored to take on this role at such a critical time in our nation. The lottery sector has the potential to contribute significantly to our economy, but we must first rebuild trust with the public.”
He said, by the law creating the NLA, the institution is supposed to ‘generate revenue for the purposes of meeting its obligations, contributing to government’s revenue generation, contributing to institutions serving persons with disabilities and to the causes of persons living with disabilities.’
“The government is supposed to care for and cater to the needs of its people. So, my goal as Deputy Director-General for Technical Services is to buttress and work with my Director General, the other deputies and the entire team to implement best practices that will not only enhance our operations but also ensure that the lottery is a source of pride for all Liberians,” Burphy assured.
According to him, one of his primary objectives as Deputy Director-General for Technical Services is to help rebrand the lottery sector which he said involves not only improving the operational aspects of the lottery but also changing public perception and introducing innovation and new dynamics.
Burphy believes that a successful rebranding effort of the NLA, which is the regulator of gambling activities in Liberia, must focus on three key areas of transparency, community engagement, and technological innovation.
“So, with this in mind, all I can say is that we cannot change the past, but we can learn from it. My focus will be on building a strong foundation for the future of the lottery in Liberia. This will require collaboration, transparency, and a commitment to excellence,” he added.
