Africa-Press – Liberia. Eminent Emmanuel S. Wettee, a leading voice for Liberians in the diaspora and a long-time champion of dual citizenship, has received the Liberian Associations of Canada’s (LAC) Lifetime Achievement Award for his “tireless efforts in obtaining dual citizenship for Liberians in the diaspora.”
The honor was conferred Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, during LAC’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Inauguration of its newly elected officers: President Precious Podier Dramani, VP Bernard Bokun Kumeh, Secretary General Gapita Sarplah-Massaquoi, and Chief Financial Officer Peterson G.N. Walker, at Château Royal in Laval under the theme “Stronger Together.” LAC President Eugene Blawah presented the award/plaque, recognizing Wettee’s years of organizing, policy advocacy, and coalition-building across diaspora communities, both former Presidents of LAC. Mr. Francis J. Hinnah and Mr. Leo Lekpele Nupolu Johnson, who are now members of LAC’s Board of Directors, were with President Blawah as he was making the presentation to the Eminent.
Wettee, widely known as “Eminent Wettee,” has been one of the most visible and persistent advocates for citizenship reform. As chairman of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), he worked with diaspora organizations, faith groups, and professional networks to sustain a multi-year public education and policy campaign that helped lead to legal and legislative changes between 2021 and 2022. Those reforms allow Liberians to retain or reclaim their citizenship while holding citizenship elsewhere — making the slogan “Once a Liberian, always a Liberian” a reality for many in the diaspora.
His recognition in Canada follows a national honor at home. In July 2025, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., decorated Wettee with Liberia’s highest honors, admitting him into the Humane Order of African Redemption with the Grade of Knight Commander at a July 24 investiture. The presidential citation lauded his steadfast diaspora advocacy, including leadership in ULAA, his push for dual citizenship reform, and efforts to unite and mobilize Liberians at home and in the diaspora.
Wettee’s advocacy has also drawn tributes from civil society and local communities. In March 2025, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from All Liberian Diaspora Women. In 2022, Liberians in Columbus, Inc. (LICI) honored him with a similar award, and in 2023 European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA) named him the “Father of Dual Citizenship.”
Saturday’s program also marked a milestone for the host community. Originally launched during the Ebola crisis as the Federation of Liberian Associations in Canada (FLAC), the group rebranded in 2019 as the Liberian Associations of Canada (LAC) to reflect a broader mission. The anniversary brought together Liberian leaders, professionals, and partners to induct new officers, celebrate service, and spotlight standout contributions to community advancement. In presenting the award, LAC praised Wettee’s staying power and impact, echoing the inscription that recognizes his “tireless efforts.”
For hundreds of thousands of Liberians living abroad, dual citizenship is more than a legal technicality. It affects family cohesion, inheritance, business formation, and opportunities for national service. Advocates say the reforms align the law with Liberia’s development needs by supporting talent mobility, attracting investment, and helping turn brain drain into brain gain.
Wettee and fellow advocates have coupled policy change with practical outreach. After the reforms, they supported community education to help Liberians in the diaspora understand their eligibility, rights, and legal limitations. They also continue to push for next-step measures that make the gains tangible: improved access to consular services, predictable property and inheritance protections, investment facilitation for diaspora-owned businesses, and expanded civic inclusion within Liberia’s legal framework.
A veteran organizer and policy advocate, Wettee holds leadership roles with ALCOD and collaborates with umbrella groups across North America and beyond. His work centers on citizenship, good governance, and diaspora-development partnerships designed to translate pride and patriotism into practical outcomes for Liberians at home and abroad.
The LAC recognition adds to a growing list of honors recognizing Wettee’s national and community impact — and to a broader message for policymakers and diaspora communities alike: when Liberians abroad are empowered to belong fully, Liberia is stronger.
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