…As MD Diana Nebo Concludes Talks With International Partners
Bushrod Island, Liberia: As part of efforts to buttress H. E. President George M. Weah’s Commitment to Port Sector Reform through human development, a three-man NPA delegation to the United States has finalized talks aimed at mobilizing funds intended to provide capacity-building opportunities for deserving Liberian students.
According to an NPA release dated Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Hon. Diana Nebo, Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), as head of the visiting delegation to the United States, sees the move as a direct manifestation of President George Weah’s vision for Liberians to acquire education, especially those with career interests in Port Related disciplines.
In expressing her gratitude on behalf of the Liberian Leader, Hon. Diana Nebo assured the scholarship committee and organizing partners of NPA’s relentless commitment to the endeavor.
The Port Boss believes that the surest way to keep NPA as a “Going Concern” is to invest in education consistent with President Weah’s vision for Port Sector Reform and Transformation.
She named: Marine, Operations, and Information Technology as a few of the areas of the port needing immediate attention for capacity building.
A dispatch from the US says several top Corporate, Private, and Public Executives and Institutions are expected to attend the official launching ceremony of the scholarship fund drive which is slated to take place in Houston, Texas, USA, on June 21, 2023.
The June 21, 2023 fundraising event is being organized and hosted by the Scholarship Committee, headed by its Chairperson, Dr. DD Ford, and Houston International Trade Development Council through its President Mr. Val Thompson.
Mr. Val Thompson is also a senior managing partner at Blandford-Thompson Consulting, headed by Hon. Cynthia Blandford, Liberia’s Honorary Council in Georgia.
According to the organizers, official invitations are being prepared for several potential sponsors and donors to attend and make generous contributions to the fund drive.
Madam Nebo reiterated NPA’s commitment to the payment of U$10,000 as initial contribution to the scholarship funds and further assured her American counterparts that she will personally reach out to prominent philanthropists in Liberia to encourage their support towards the scholarship scheme.
The NPA Boss and delegation also had a formal port briefing meeting and tour at the rapidly growing Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and held talks on issues of Several best practical strategies and ongoing projects.
Both the NPA and their Georgia Ports Authority counterparts have agreed to remained passionately committed to upholding the intent of their sisterly Port relationship which was renewed through a memorandum of understanding in May 2022.
The Liberian delegation was also hosted by the President of Savannah State University (SSU), Dr. Kimberly Ballard‒Washington, and senior staff members of the University.
The University expressed appreciation for the visit and assured the Liberian delegation of SSU’s willingness to partner with the NPA’s scholarship Committee to ensure the success of the NPA’s vision.
President Kimberly Ballard‒Washington however extended an invitation to the NPA’s Managing Director to do her second degree at Savannah State University (SSU), whenever she wants.
The NPA delegation’s visit was climaxed by a dinner with officials of the Black Chamber of Commerce in Savannah, GA. Commissioner Aaron Whiteley who visited Liberia during the bicentennial celebrations in 2022, facilitated the dinner.
Mr. Sekou B. Korleh, Executive Director for Governmental & International Affairs, and Mr. Pewee Flomoku, Executive Director for Human Resources are part of the NPA’s Visiting delegations to the US.
