Africa-Press – Liberia. Young public servants, government officials, development partners and alumni from five African countries have converged in Liberia for the 2026 Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) Alumni Network Gathering.The high-level forum is focused on strengthening leadership, promoting inclusive growth, and accelerating youth participation in governance across the continent.
The gathering brought together over 60 participants from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Liberia under the theme: “From Learning to Leadership: Young Public Servants Scaling Youth Transitions and Inclusive Growth.”
The event serves as a critical platform for alumni, fellows, policymakers, and partners to reflect on the progress of leadership development initiatives while exploring practical solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing governance and development challenges.
Delivering the keynote address, Liberia’s former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Marjon B. Kamara, challenged the young leaders to view public service not as a privilege, but as a heavy responsibility rooted in integrity, humility, discipline and lifelong learning.
“As a former official of the Government of Liberia and a mentor of the President’s Young Professionals Programme, I believe the African Union’s Agenda 2063 will be realized incrementally—not only by economic growth, technological advancement, and infrastructure development, but also importantly by the quality of governance, including leadership of public institutions,” Ambassador Kamara said.
She stressed that Africa’s future heavily depends on leaders who are competent, ethical, accountable, and committed to serving citizens rather than personal interests.
“Effective governance demands leaders who are humble, selfless, and self-disciplined,” she told the participants.
“Leaders who are curious and who take pride in their financial and intellectual independence.”
The former Foreign Minister noted that the conference theme perfectly captures the journey every successful public servant must undertake—moving from the acquisition of knowledge to exercising responsible leadership capable of transforming institutions and communities.
“Deep learning and effective leadership require the willingness to admit that no one knows everything and that every leader must also be a follower,” she noted.
Addressing the impact of social media and rapidly advancing technology, Ambassador Kamara cautioned young professionals against sacrificing interpersonal relationships, critical thinking, and ethical judgment in an increasingly digital world.
“Nothing can beat the human mind, its nuances, insights, instincts, and creativity,” she said. “You, the alumni of EPL, as individuals, still matter.”
She further encouraged participants to strengthen communication and regional integration by learning additional African and international languages, noting that public service is a matter of linguistic as well as technical competency.
“We must relate to the people we serve and engage them in a language they trust,” she emphasized.
The former Cabinet Minister urged the young leaders to adequately prepare themselves for the compounding challenges facing Africa, including skyrocketing youth unemployment, climate change, irregular migration, public health concerns, systemic corruption and the disruptive effects of emerging technologies.
“Leadership requires your commitment to continuous consumption of verifiable and credible information, and your commitment to applying that knowledge to solve problems, strengthen institutions, improve lives, and contribute to a more equal and just world,” she stated.
Ambassador Kamara praised the expansion of the leadership model, which originated in Liberia through the President’s Young Professionals Programme (PYPP) and has since evolved into the continental Emerging Public Leaders network.
She highly commended former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for her vision in establishing the initiative, and acknowledged the continued support of successive Liberian administrations for sustaining pathways that allow young people to contribute meaningfully to public service.
Furthermore, Madam Kamara applauded the leadership of the PYP Executive Director, Mrs. Ciata Stevens d’Almeida, noting that young professionals trained through the program continue to earn praise from government ministries and public institutions for their professionalism and stellar performance.
Delivering remarks earlier, the Executive Director of the President’s Young Professionals Program of Liberia, Mrs. Ciata Stevens d’Almeida, welcomed the regional participants to Monrovia. Reflecting on her own journey from a fellowship recipient to Executive Director, she described herself as a living example of the event’s theme.
“I am a beneficiary of the Emerging Public Leaders Fellowship and a testimony of our theme—from learning to leadership,” she said.
Mrs. Stevens d’Almeida emphasized that investing in youth transitions is essential to achieving sustainable development and economic growth across Africa.
“I encourage everyone in this room to think about ways that we can scale up in our different institutions so that we can build an army of African professionals that will move our continent toward development and inclusive growth,” the PYP boss stated.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration and mentorship, she urged participants to build strategic relationships beyond their national borders and learn from experienced leaders.
“In Liberia, we have a proverb that says, ‘You have to sit on the old mat to make a new one,’” she remarked.
“We need to sit at the feet of our elders to be able to scale up.”
She expressed optimism that the EPL network would continue expanding across Africa until all 54 countries are fully represented in future gatherings.
The 2026 Alumni Network Gathering underscores the growing role of young public servants in shaping governance and development across the continent. Throughout the week, participants are engaging in high-level discussions on leadership, innovation, public sector reform, and strategies for scaling youth transitions into meaningful employment and civic engagement.
As the conference continues at the Royal Ambassador Hotel in Margibi Countyg, organizers expect the gathering to strengthen cross-border partnerships, foster knowledge sharing, and inspire a new generation of ethical leaders committed to building stronger institutions across Africa.
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