By By: Domingo Dargbeh;
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Alumni Association of Liberia (JAALIB) has concluded its 2024 General Assembly with a call to strengthen collaboration, enhance growth, and build a sustainable future.
Speaking at the close of the two-day assembly, JAALIB President Emmanuel Z. Wragboe urged the Liberian government to strengthen its diplomatic and developmental ties with Japan, advocating for the reopening of the Japanese Embassy in Liberia. He emphasized the need for collaborative initiatives that enhance capacity-building and contribute to national development.
“Our association is committed to fostering initiatives that will support capacity-building across various sectors, ensuring that knowledge gained from JICA training programs continues to benefit Liberia’s development,” Wragboe stated.
He also reaffirmed his leadership’s commitment to promoting Japanese best practices in governance, education, health, and infrastructure, stressing that these principles could significantly enhance Liberia’s development trajectory.
In his remarks, Nathaniel Cisco, Assistant Minister for Vocational and Technical Education (TVET) at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the importance of integrating Japan’s 5S principles into government institutions to improve service delivery.
“The adoption of 5S is a game-changer for workplace efficiency. JAALIB’s initiative aligns with the government’s efforts to strengthen institutional performance, and we are grateful for this capacity-building engagement,” Minister Cisco noted.
JAALIB’s Vice President Albert G. Zorgbe and Vice President for Administration and Operations, Madam Nyama Harris, led a hands-on demonstration of the 5S methodology—a structured workplace organization strategy originating from Japan that promotes efficiency, safety, and productivity. Zorgbe emphasized that adopting these principles in government institutions would lead to improved service delivery and professional development.
Meanwhile, Liberians who recently returned from JICA training programs in Japan expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for the opportunity to broaden their knowledge. They pledged to apply their newly acquired skills and strengthen cultural and developmental ties between Liberia and Japan.
The JAALIB 2024 General Assembly reinforced the importance of international cooperation in national development, with calls for stronger diplomatic and technical collaboration between Liberia and Japan.
