Monrovia, August 2025 – The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has recognized several of its employees for successfully completing certificate programs at the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA), describing the achievement as a significant step in strengthening the agency’s human resource capacity and service delivery.
The recognition program, held at the EPA’s conference room in Monrovia, brought together staff, supervisors, and administrators to celebrate employees who pursued studies in disciplines ranging from Human Resource Management to Monitoring and Evaluation.
Delivering special remarks, EPA Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, praised the graduates for demonstrating commitment to personal and professional growth. He emphasized that capacity building remains central to the EPA’s institutional development strategy.
“I am pleased to see our staff acquiring new skills that will directly enhance their work at the EPA,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “The betterment of Liberia depends on each of us, and one way to achieve this is by building our individual and institutional capacities.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo assured staff that the EPA will continue to support training opportunities that enhance professional competencies, stressing that the agency’s mandate of protecting Liberia’s environment requires a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ms. Grace Biah, Gender Coordinator at the EPA, expressed gratitude to the agency’s leadership for prioritizing staff development. She noted that the training would help graduates become more effective in their respective roles.
“Opportunities like this remind us that leadership cares about our growth,” Ms. Biah said. “The skills we have gained will not only advance our careers but also improve the EPA’s ability to deliver on its mandate.”
Also addressing the program, Mr. Jerry Togba, Assistant Director for Training, presented the graduates and urged them to apply their newly acquired skills in practical ways. “What you have achieved should not end with a certificate,” he cautioned. “It should reflect in your work and add value to this institution.”
Among those celebrated was Ms. Rose Arthur, Assistant Human Resource Officer, who completed a certificate in Human Resource Management. Sharing her experience, she said the program gave her practical tools to complement her degree in Sociology and Administration. “The training helped me to build on my background and better understand how to handle the day-to-day realities of human resource management,” Arthur explained.
Other graduates include Don Angelo George, Princess Yancy, Linford Henries, and Lovetee Vico Jolo, who earned certificates in Human Resource Management. In addition, Zinnah Kamara, Grace Cooper, and Preston Davis completed Monitoring and Evaluation training, equipping them to track, assess, and improve the EPA’s environmental projects.
Management noted that the recognition of these staff members aligns with the EPA’s broader objective of promoting knowledge-based leadership and enhancing institutional efficiency. Officials believe such investments in staff development will strengthen the agency’s ability to safeguard Liberia’s environment through innovation, accountability, and professional excellence.
As the event concluded, the message from leadership and staff was clear: the pursuit of knowledge and skill is not just an individual accomplishment but a collective asset that strengthens the entire agency in its mission to protect and preserve Liberia’s natural heritage.
