By Precious D Freeman
The University of Liberia (UL), with support from the World Bank, has launched a Master of Science Degree Program in Procurement Management, and also dedicated a state-of-the-art radio conferencing room, a resource center for students and faculty.
The facility houses refurbished classrooms, up-to-date text books, video conference facility, laptops for students and faculty, graduate reading room, dozens of classroom chairs, conference table, and a host of other equipment and accessories to enhance learning and research.
Already, a few qualified facilitators with specialized Procurement Management skills have been recruited by the UL Graduate School authorities, to provide training for the students who will be admitted to the program.
The launch of the Graduate Program in Procurement Management will strengthen Public Financial Management (PFM), enhance the capacity of civil service, and solve most of the Public Financial Management challenges in Liberia.
The ceremony, which was held recently, was graced by the UL president, Julius Sarwolo Nelson, World Bank Country Manager, Ms. Georgia Wallen, and UL vice president for Graduate Studies and Research, Jonathan C. Taylor.
Other attendees were representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), the Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA), alumni of the UL Financial Management Training Program (FMTP), and the Intensive Procurement Training Program (IPTP).
Speaking at the occasion, the UL president said that the University of Liberia has always been at the forefront of driving positive change in Liberia and beyond.
According to him, through the program, the university will be nurturing a new generation of procurement professionals who will be expected to uphold the highest ethical standards, foster transparency, and champion sustainable development in Liberia.
“With the implementation of the already rigorous curriculum and our dedicated and professional faculty, we are confident that our graduates will make substantial contributions to our nation’s economic growth and social progress,” said Dr. Nelson.
Dr. Nelson called upon all potential students to embrace the challenges ahead with determination, focus, and enthusiasm.
The UL president indicated that the demand for transparency, accountability and integrity in the Liberian society is overwhelmingly tasked, such that all hands have to be on deck, if the Government’s vision for good governance is to be fully realized.
“We call on our partners especially the World Bank to continue to lend your support to this program, ensuring its continuity and sustainability,” he pleaded.
Liberia’s Public Concession and Procurement Commission Executive Director, Mr. Bodger Scott Johnson, said it is important to laud the University of Liberia for the milestone achieved, and the World Bank for its numerous support in key development areas.
He pledged that the Commission remains supportive, extending its hand of collaboration to all stakeholders, in an effort to increase the public knowledge on the importance of public procurement management and how critical it is to national development.
He noted that this system, when deployed, will maximize efficiency of Liberia’s public procurement processes and attract more international recognition, as well as providing a safe space for the procurement profession.
The World Bank Liberia Country Manager, Georgia Walen, said the University of Liberia has professionalized public procurement through vertical education in procurement, paving the way for aspiring professionals to attain certifications, licenses, and continuing professional development.
She said this initiative has not only strengthened the capacity of the University, but has also elevated the standards of procurement practices in Liberia.
“The refurbishment and equipping of the Graduate School resource center with state-of-the-art computers, modern furniture, video conference facilities, and a wealth of textbooks, have transformed it into a hub of knowledge and learning, providing students with a conducive environment to pursue their academic goals, dreams, and aspirations.”
She reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to investing in human capital and building a prosperous future for Liberia.
“The skills and knowledge students will acquire through this program will equip them to make meaningful contributions to Liberia’s growth, governance, and public procurement processes,” she added.
For his part, the Director of the Master of Business Administration/Master of Public Administration at the University of Liberia, Geegbae A. Geegbae, said the two-year Master’s program was launched in 2006 as a collaborative venture of partners.
He named them as the Ministry of Finance, the University of Liberia, the Civil Service Agency, and the Liberia Institute for Public Administration.
