A renewed call for long-term investment in leadership development is gaining attention, as Presidential Advisor MacDella M. Cooper urges Liberia and African nations to take more deliberate steps in preparing the next generation of public leaders.
Speaking at the Annual Alumni Gathering of the Emerging Public Leaders Alumni Network (EPLAN) in Margibi County, Cooper emphasized the need for stronger institutional backing for youth leadership programs. Representing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, she highlighted gaps in sustainability and structure that, if addressed, could significantly strengthen governance across the region.
Central to her proposal is the formal establishment of Liberia’s President’s Young Professionals Program through legislation. She argued that embedding the initiative into law would ensure its continuity, protect it from political changes, and expand its long-term national impact.
Cooper also pushed for broader continental recognition of leadership initiatives, calling on the Emerging Public Leaders program to seek formal endorsement and chartering by the African Union. She noted that such recognition could help harmonize leadership training standards across Africa, deepen collaboration among countries, and cultivate a new generation of ethical and capable leaders.
The event brought together young professionals and alumni from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, all focused on advancing public service excellence and leadership capacity across the continent.
Her remarks highlight a growing conversation about whether current efforts to groom future leaders are sufficient—and what more governments must do to build resilient, visionary leadership pipelines for Africa’s future.
