The AU Must Reconceptualize Regional Integration on the Continent to Achieve Peace and Sustainable Development

 

The AU Must Reconceptualize Regional Integration on the Continent to Achieve Peace and Sustainable Development

This opinion piece summarizes the PhD dissertation for Prof. Thomas Kaydor, Jr. from the Faculty of Government and European Studies, New University, Slovenia. The topic for the PhD research was ‘reconceptualizing Africa’s regional integration for peace and sustainable development’. Chapter five of the UN charter focuses on peace, and security; and Chapter VIII on regionalism. The dissertation investigated how AU utilizes its authority to mitigate conflicts on the continent. The research also evaluated whether Africa’s regional integration leads to economic growth and development in Africa. You can read a full summary of the research at https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.807139.

The research has established that unless the continent engages in deeper economic integration, regionalism will not lead to regional development. It recommends how Africa might alleviate extreme poverty and attain sustainable development in the 21st Century and beyond. Its’ four specific objectives were to: a) identify the benefits and challenges of Regionalism in Africa. b) ascertain why extreme poverty is widespread in Africa and propose what should be done through regional integration to alleviate the extreme poverty in Africa. c) find out the impact of Official Development Assistance (ODA) on Africa’s regional development and propose ways to strengthen the impact of aid on poverty alleviation and economic development in Africa, and d) propose what Africa should do to Achieve Sustainable Development.

This research was Qualitative. Researchers use this method to explore meanings; investigate and study social phenomenon; or unpack meanings ascribed to activities, situations, events, or artifacts; and build a depth of understanding about some dimension of social life with detailed information from a small sample. Qualitative research is appropriate when one’s primary purpose is to explore, describe, and explain.

Chapter one provided the research background, explained the research topic, discussed the research problem, and stated the research questions. It also contained the research aims, purpose and objectives. Chapter one further discussed the research methods used to undertake the research and described the chapters of the dissertation. It discussed other research already done on this subject matter. The chapter also indicates the anticipated research results and contribution that the research made to scholarship in general and specifically to international relations theory. It finally indicates the application of the research results. Narrative and explanatory methods were used in writing this chapter. The second chapter provided the theoretical perspective of this dissertation. It evaluated additional research already conducted is in this chapter. This chapter discusses what other authors and scholars have written and published about regional integration in Africa and other parts of the world. It found the research gaps in these previous scholarly works reviewed. These pieces of research have gaps that the dissertation attempts to bridge. The methods used in this chapter were historical, exploratory, and evaluative.

Chapter 3 in the PhD dissertation constituted the Review of Related Literature. This chapter reviewed not less than 100 academic pieces of literature related regional integration in African and globally. Chapter Four is the presentation, analysis, and discussion of field data. Chapter four presents, analyses, and discusses data collected through key informant interviews at the AU Commission. As indicated earlier, the AU has a chairperson who heads the AU Commission and a Deputy Chairperson who assists the Chairperson. The Union also has six commissioners responsible for thematic areas. The six commissioners are elected by the AU Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly for a four-year term renewable once. These commissioners head thematic areas, including Technology, Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment; Political Affairs, Peace, and Security; Infrastructure and Energy; Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining; Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation; Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development. The heads of the departments of women, gender and youth, and civil society and diaspora were also interviewed.

The offices of the six commissioners, two heads of the departments of women, gender and youth, and civil society and diaspora with the Vice Chair and Chairperson of the Commission were interviewed by the researcher to get their perspectives on the gains, challenges, and prospects of the AU, and gauge their insights on how the regional body could spur economic growth and sustainable development on the continent. The researcher obtained the informed consent of the 10 research participants. The interview guides used to collect the data were approved by the dissertation Supervisor or Mentor, Dr. Gorazd Justinek, for data collection. The views of the participants were tape-recorded, and thereafter transcribed. The transcribed data were placed under themes and a detailed analysis and interpretation of the data were done.

Chapter five was focused on Prospects of Africa’s attainment of sustainable development. Chapter five addressed what the Africa Union needs to do to achieve Sustainable Development in the 21st Century and beyond. In this chapter, the normative research method was utilized to indicate what should be done and why certain actions must be taken by the AU to enhance economic growth and development for the attainment of sustainable development on the continent. Chapter Six of the research was the summary, conclusion, and recommendations. It summarized and concluded the dissertation. This chapter proffered recommendations that stakeholders in and out of Africa would need to act on to achieve sustainable development on the continent. This concluding chapter of the dissertation utilized a combination of all the research methods used in all the previous chapters because it summarized all the 5 chapters and brought the research to a logical conclusion.

AS I SEE IT, for Africa to have peace and achieve sustainable development through the continent’s regional integration mechanism, the African Union (AU) needs to implement the 1991 Abuja Treaty; fully arm, equip and support the African Standby Force to make and keep peace. Africa needs a United States of Africa under one army, one border, one government, one foreign policy and one currency. The AU also needs to ensure that 80% of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) in African states goes towards infrastructural development. Africa needs to constitute an AU sovereign fund for all Africans to contribute a dollar for infrastructural development on the continent. The AU needs to manage the environment appropriately and sustainably. The AU should focus on agricultural productivity, value addition and provision of safe drinking water to address the extreme hunger, malnutrition, water issues, hunger, and poverty on the continent. Finally, the AUC needs to become a Permanent Member of the UNSC.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained his first master’s degree as a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction), and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Mass Communication as his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other professional diplomas and certificates from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).

Congratulations to the Government of Liberia for Appointing the President of the University of Liberia

 

Congratulations to the Government of Liberia for Appointing the President of the University of Liberia

In my first public opinion in 2025, I extended New Year Greetings to all and called on the Government of Liberia to Urgently Appoint the President of the University of Liberia where I currently serve as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. As I saw it and still see it, H.E President Joseph Nyuma Boakai needed to appoint the President of the University of Liberia. I argued that the government could not preside over a closed State University. I wondered why should the government keep the University closed and feel happy to continue to pay salaries of an entity that was dysfunctional? Absolutely, there was and there is no justification for this mishap and anomaly. I reminded that no government in the history of Liberia played around the integrity of the University and went free, and that this government would be no exception to that rule. I also indicated that former student leaders who graduated from the University and are part of this government must see it as their exclusive responsibility to ensure that the Visitor of the University needed to appoint the New President of the University (https://oraclenewsdaily.com/2025/01/03/the-government-of-liberia-needs-to-urgently-appoint-the-president-of-the-university-of-liberia/ ). Congratulations to the President and the Government for listening to this request that several other Liberians made. This shows that the Government listens to its citizens. Listening to the citizens is good for any democratic government around the globe. I think the government has started the New Year on a good footing. Congratulations, President JNB.

In that first opinion piece of the year, 2025, I emphatically indicated that in Life, delays are dangerous and too many delays are too dangerous. I said that we, at the University, were not happy about its closure. Indeed, President Boakai graduated from the University, and we are now happy that he has appointed the new president to replace Dr. Nelson who resigned sometime ago. Now we request this government to support the very University. All the villages, towns, districts, and counties in Liberia are represented at the University. Therefore, the Liberian people are all interested in what happens at the University of Liberia . Liberians are now happy about the appointment of the New President of the University. I have been reading and listening to the different views about the appointment and I do understand the diverse world views or perspectives of the different proponents. This emphasizes the recommendation I made before that there is a need to write the History of the University of Liberia (https://thenewdawnliberia.com/we-welcome-the-doctoral-programs-at-the-university-of-liberia/ ). I understand that Dr. Maparnyan is not a Liberian, but she is married to a Liberian. In the academic arena, tribe or race or citizenship does really matter. What matters is competence. In fact, the first President of the University was an American citizen. This is the country that hosts thousands of Liberians today and almost all Liberians wish to migrate to the United Sates of America. I could become President of an American University tomorrow.

I understand that the New President is an African American. This means that she has a Black background. So, she is one of us. In fact, that she is married to a Liberian, I would not be surprised if she became a Liberian at any time. I therefore take this time to request all students and faculty as well as the public to openly welcome our New President. We need to write a comprehensive history of the University of Liberia. This would allow future generations to fully read, comprehend and appreciate its merits and demerits. Congratulations to H.E President JNB for appointing the University President, Dr. Layli Maparnyan, our new president. Congratulations, Madam President, on your appointment in line with the Charter of the University. Welcome to the University of Liberia, your new place of work. We avail our services as usual to collaborating with you collectively for the progress of the University. I am fully aware that this was a competition that you won. Therefore, I urge you to embrace all those who competed. Embrace all in the best interest of the University.

Welcome and congratulations once more, Dr. Maparnyan, on your appointment as the New President of the University. I, personally and official welcome you at the University of Liberia, the Lux Tenebris. You have our unflinching and unwavering support. Your appointment comes out of a rigid competition. You came out of twenty-two applicants and got shortlisted amongst the three finalists that later became 2 finalists due to the appointment of the third to another job. All the applicants had equally competitive academic credentials. Some are even full professors at  the University of Liberia. Thank God that Dr. Zinnah, who we are reliably informed was with you as the singular finalist, has officially written and communicated his support to you. Accordingly, he promised to collaborate and work with you. I recommend that you welcome this offer and work with Professor Dr. Zinnah and others. He is a former Vice President for Academic Affairs. Also, welcome and work with all other applicants at the University. I think they had exceptionally good plans to implement as well. All of them have personal and official experiences and competencies that your leadership needs. The ball is in your bosom now to lead the University. Our problems will now stop with you as the team leader at the University. President JNB will rest small. You need to harmonize the interests of all the stakeholders. You need the experiences and guidance of all the professors. In every competition, there must be a winner. And in this process of the final appointment the discretion of the President matters in line with the Charter. We therefore congratulate the Visitor to the University and the President of the Republic, H.E President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.

Are there issues at the University that require your urgent administrative attention? Yes. I think one off the first things is to conduct a forensic audit of the University. I understand this is almost done. Also, you need to conduct a credential audit of all lecturers and professors at the University. In any given academic community, professors who teach/lecture, conduct research and publish and execute community service need to have the rightful academic credentials. Therefore, the University needs an urgent credential audit. This must be done if you must lead a professional team. We are aware that some of those who thrive on fake degrees at the University are there, and we have been wondering why such people are kept in leadership roles in such a competitive environment where meritocracy should thrive. Gone should be those days that those with fake credentials would survive at the University. They got promoted extremely fast because of their alignment with the ruling parties in Liberia. This must stop. Thankfully, you have no tribal person at the University. You do not hail from any of the counties besides been affiliated with your husband’s tribe and county due to marriage. Your being an American gives you the advantaged role of being beyond tribes, clans, etc. You must take lead and run an inclusive leadership. Besides these two serious issues, there are several other issues that posed a challenge to those you have come to replace. For instance, the issues that you need address include but are not limited to:

1.      Restructure the Finance and Human Resource Offices or Departments.

2.      Fully utilize the University of Liberia Charter. The ULFA and ULSA teams highlighted the wanton violation of the UL Charter and the creation of several Vice Presidents and Organs at the University of Liberia. Time has changed, but until a New Charter is enacted, fully work with the existing one. You need to drive the process to revise the Charter to meet contemporary realities. Such process must be consultative and inclusive.

3.      Fully implement the 2019 faculty promotion policy to its letter based on merit and based on the Faculty Promotion Policy of 2019.

4.      Ensure that the salaries of the University employees are paid on time. Alternatively, since salaries are paid by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, allow the MFPD to directly deposit the salaries of all University employees to their designated accounts once you sign and approve the payroll. In the event of faculty promotion, where salaries are adjusted, that should be immediately  communicated to the MFDP for immediate action the  following month.

5.      Pay part-time faculty. They should be paid monthly based on their contracts. I am reliably informed that their arears will be cleared before you take office on Friday, 10th January 2025. Please follow thru on this because people sometimes tell lies to deceive leaders.

6.       Refurbish all the learning and leisure environmental areas and lavatories. The UL Administration has informed that refurbishing of the campuses and lavatories will be done before January 13, 2025. Please try to fully renovate the 4 campuses.

7.      Kindly constitute a committee comprising ULSA, ULFA and MFDP to work on faculty and staff salary disparities and the payment of the previous 40% increment agreed under President Weah.

8.      The UL Administration has informed that they have procured 2 buses for Sinje Faculty. We thank the Acting President for this and other efforts that he has made.

9.      Conduct faculty performance review each and revery semester. We are not evaluated at all. Other Universities evaluate us each semester.

10.  Equip the campuses with unlimited internet. The provision of Wi-Fi and internet  access on all campuses cannot be overemphasized.

11.  Fully equip the existing laboratories and libraries and open new ones. Also run an online library. Introduce technology for automated services at the University.

12.  Reward honour students who graduate from undergraduate colleges with Masters scholarships at the graduate schools within the university and honoured graduates from the master’s programs should be provided PhD scholarships or fellowships at the University and abroad. This would help to enhance the faculties’ capabilities. Introduce students and faculties’ exchange programs at the University.

13.  Open the University of Liberia Farm to help produce varieties of food for the country; and allow students to practice what they learn.

Particularly for the graduate and research programs,  

14. Open a separate account for the payment of fees and tuition for students at the graduate and professional schools.

15. Pay Thesis supervisors at the graduate school for their services as agreed by past administration. It was agreed that no one should supervise more than 10 thesis students. Students paid $200US each for supervision, the University received the payments, but has not yet paid supervisors.

16. There is a need for smart classrooms at the graduate school; bathrooms for graduate students and professors are dilapidated. Graduate and Professional students pay $75 US per credit hour and $150.US for registration. They deserve the full ambiance for their monies like anywhere else at graduate schools.

17. Turnitin is a softer ware that we use to detect similarity and plagiarism for graduate thesis and all research works at the graduate school. University paid about $35, 000 US in 2000 for the software. It has not been renewed since, based on the scanty information that we have on this. The University is also using a trial version of its website and emails are provided via a third-party University in South Africa. We must and need to have our own University of Liberia web-based systems.

18. A concept note for an inter disciplinary academic journal at the graduate school was prepared, and some officials were appointed to lead and open the journal. 5 years later, there is no journal. You need to open that inter disciplinary journal. All colleges need their own academic peer-reviewed journals.

19. The university promised it would open a research account of not less than $50, 000US. to fund faculty’s research. You need to open such research account with even more money to fund academic research by professors. We need to improve research and publication at the University and attract more resources.

20. There is a graduate school reform report. Undergraduate colleges are linked with graduate schools. Students graduating from the University of Liberia  with 3.0 are still sitting entrance exams to enter graduate school. That should stop. The University cannot graduate students and give them entrance exams for the same school to enter graduate programs.

21. Some faculties have been in one academic rank for years against the  approved 2019 promotion policy.

22.Some courses that we teach at the graduate school require special computer  programs. There is no computer lab for the graduate school. There is a need to complete the computer lab started on the 4th floor started by one graduating class.

23. Enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the faculty and staff to inform the strategic direction of the UL and to amicably resolve all issues as they may arise from time to time.

24. Regularly pay the Medical College students’ allowances.

25.  The University is the owner of the John F. Kennedy Medical Centre as its Teaching Hospital. Please reclaim the JFK as such.

Dr. Maparnyan, you need to raise funds for the University and coordinate private funding and grants for academic research and excellence at the UL. Presidents of Universities in contemporary times are grant writers and funds raisers. The Government must also fund its part of the commitment to the University through an incremental National Budget process. The government must fund the university and reduce or stop the political interference. Students are at the University to obtain their academic degrees, and this effort needs to be supported and achieved in a timely manner as prescribed by the University.

AS I SEE IT, as a Former Chair of the Ever-Potent Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP), and now an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School,  I call on all students’ political groups to present their aspirations or concerns through official writings to the President for redress. The entire University community should commit to academic excellence. Write  down and publish your grievances. Burning tires, throwing stones, and fighting with cutlasses should be and must be something of the past like in the war years. Pens and papers must convey our grievances. Diplomacy and Negotiation must be our guard. Research and Development through innovation must be the order of the New Day at the University of Liberia. We, as a country, own the University of Liberia. We must utilize it for academic purposes. There is a need to conduct peaceful, free, fair, and democratic elections on the campus based on the approved rules and regulations of the University to be able to give students the opportunity to practice good leadership and democratic governance and ensure accountability and stewardship for their work. Stop the Interim Governments  at the University. Politics is part of life. Amongst the students, do not ban it. We are not in war or crises situations. There is no need to suspend students’ politics where we teach Political Science. The students must practice what they learn. In fact, most of the students that practice politics are not from the Political Science Department. Welcome once again, Dir. Layli Maparnyan, to the University of Liberia. Feel at home!

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained his first master’s degree as a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction), and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Mass Communication as his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other professional diplomas and certificates from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).

The Government of Liberia Needs to Urgently Appoint the President of the University of Liberia

 The Government of Liberia Needs to Urgently Appoint the President of the University of Liberia

Happy New Year to my lovely wife, Mrs. Helen Garbo Kaydor, our children (Chief, Mother, Dweh, Nunnoh, Freddie, Julius, and Carter), our family members from the Kaydor and Garbo families, the people of Liberia and all global or universal citizens. Happy New Year, also, to the men and women of the media including the new Dawn Newspaper (OT the man), the Oracle Newspaper (Nat), The Investigator Newspaper (Dodoo), and the Verity Newspaper (Zac and my boy Martin Kollie-former Secretary General and Standard Bearer of SUP) for always lifting my views on national, regional, and international issues under the title: “AS I SEE IT”. Indeed, I do see a lot of things and I will continue to see a lot more. And as I see these issues, I will continue to write about them. Therefore, am grateful to these media entities that have published my views in their print and online versions in the papers without any pay. 

I am exceedingly grateful to Mr. Othello Garblah who accepted to operate or run a weekly column called “AS I SEE IT” in his New Dawn Newspaper. In fact, to his credit, he suggested that name when we were finding a suitable name for my column in his Newspaper. I promised to provide one version of this every week. I can promise again that I will write and keep providing my one edition every week. It is left with the news entities mentioned herein to publish on the day they prefer. Notably, Ambassador Garblah is a graduate of the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He is my former student and I appreciate his support of my initiatives and engagements with the media. I hope other papers will join these newspapers mentioned to regularly publish my ideas that others call debates, analysis, arguments, etc. on national, regional, and international social, economic, political, and environmental issues.

The University of Liberia is the Nation’s highest institution of learning. The University was founded in 1952 after operating from 1852 as the Liberia College. Liberia College of Social Sciences and humanities is the College that I graduated from at the University of Liberia. I was the dux of the College when we graduated on May 28, 2003. I read Political Science with Emphasis in Comparative Government and Politics (Magna Cum Laude). History was my minor and Mass Communication was my elective. I am therefore a product of the university of Liberia, and I am proud that I am lecturing there as an Assistant Professor today. I have been in this Assistant Professor portfolio since 2018 at the IBB Graduated School. I have applied for an academic promotion many times to become an Associate Professor at the University because I have met all the policy and academic requirements. I hope to be promoted based on merit one day. No matter how long the night, the day will break. Given the significance and importance I give to the University of Liberia, I thought to write my first opinion on the University of Liberia in 2025. 

The University has been closed since the last graduation in September 2024. While the University remains closed, we who are employed there continue to be paid on the taxes earned from the blood and sweat of the struggling Liberian people. I do not like or enjoy taking pay when am not working. It is wrong and unethical to do so. Our late father always said to us to “work and be paid handsomely for the work that we do.” However, it is the Government of Liberia that is responsible for this national waste because the University, the highest state owned in the country, is closed because of some demands that University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA) is making.

Since the end of Liberia’s civil crises in 2003 and restoration of democratic governance in Liberia, His Excellency, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, is the first elected and Indigenous President who graduated from the University of Liberia. All others before him in post-conflict Liberia did not. It was and it is still expected that an Alumna of the University who is now the Head of State, President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia will make the University of Liberia his priority. Not to do so undermines the Government’s Commitment to Education in the Country. The Liberian President, by the dictates of the University Charter produced in 1951, is the Visitor of the University of Liberia. The Charter gives him the authority to officially constitute the Board of Trustees, something that has been done already. I am aware that the Charter gives some statutory membership and non-statutory membership, but both must constitute the Board to be constituted by the President. The President has since done so. 

President JNB also has the authority to appoint the President and other officials of the University. However, despite this authority given by the UL Charter, he decided to follow existing precedent by setting up a Vetting Committee to Which all those interested in Leading the University would apply and the same Vetting Committee would recommend not less than 3 names of the most competent names amongst all those applicants. He, President Boakai, would then appoint his preferred candidate from those shortlisted candidates given him by the Vetting Committee after their interviewing and vetting processes. The vetting Committee has since concluded its job. Therefore, I expect that President JNB will appoint the University President accordingly. The President, in my view, should come from those shortlisted by the Vetting Panel.

The good news is that two former Presidents and the President of the University of Liberia Alumni were part of that team. Dr. Weeks, former President, Dr. Conteh, former President and Atty Martin Penny were there on the Vetting Team. In fact, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, former ULSU President and former UL Board Secretary, was also part of that team. In fact, President Boakia got some members of his cabinet and senior officials and other comrades who graduated from the University of Liberia in his Government. Don’t they want other Liberian students to graduate from the University of Liberia to replace them and work in other places too? I hope that they are not just sitting and clapping for the President when the state is not doing well because the University is presently closed. 

Some of the former student leaders that are in this government are Comrades Hon. Samuel Kofi Woods, Hon. Anthony Kesselley, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Hon. Wilmot Paye, Hon. Jerolimeck Piah, Atty Kula Fofana, Atty Cornelius Kruah Tokpa, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Hon. Louise M. Kpoto, Hon. Malaya Cheow, Hon. Alex Neutah, Hon. Josiah Joekai, Hon. James Fromoyan, Hon. Mohammed Ali, Hon Alaric Tokpa, Hon Dougbe Nyan, Hon. Sekou Kromah, Hon. Darlington Smith, Hon. Dickson Tamba, etc. Have all these public officials forgotten about the interest of the University? Let them not forget. So many officials in this very government will come to the professors, students, and communities for elected jobs in 2029. What would they say about their roles in the closure of the University?

AS I SEE IT, H.E President Joseph Nyuma Boakai needs to appoint the President of the University of Liberia. The government cannot preside over a closed University as is now. Why should the government keep the University closed and feel happy to continue to pay salaries of an entity that is dysfunctional? Absolutely, there is no justification for this mishap and anomaly. No government in the history of Liberia played around the integrity of the University and went free. This government would be no exception to that rule. In fact, former student leaders who graduated from the University and are part of this government must see it as their exclusive responsibility to ensure that the Visitor of the University appoint the New President of the University. In Life, delays are dangerous and too many delays are too dangerous. We, at the University, are not happy about this closure. We did not elect President Boakai, who graduated from the University to neglect or forget about the very University. All the villages, towns, districts, and counties in Liberia are represented at the University. Therefore, the Liberian people are all interested in what happens at the University. Liberians are unhappy about the closure of the University, even if they do not say this now. There is no need for any further delays in appointing the new head of the University to lead the team to Victory. The time is now. The president needs to make an appointment based on the process that he set in motion.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Mass Communication as his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other professional diplomas and certificates from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).

 

The Government of Liberia Needs to Abolish Volunteer Teachers in Public Schools

Teaching is a Nobel Profession. It is an ART. In the Republic of Liberia, teachers are required to have teaching certificates at the C, B and A levels or above. This means that teachers can also be University or college graduates. For some years now, the Country has had problems/challenges with the issue of Volunteer Teachers. Volunteer Teachers? Why should anyone teach free of charge when they should be paid? Why are there Volunteer Teachers in the first Place? My understanding is that these are teachers that are teaching government schools and are not on the Government of Liberia Payroll. They are considered as Volunteer Teachers. There are no such volunteer teachers in private, or religious schools operating around the country because private school teachers are regularly paid monthly. Why are there Volunteer Teachers then? First, there are public schools that exist in communities and counties across the country. Some of those schools do not have trained or professional teachers.

Yet, those schools are operating and have students without professional teachers. Should the Government close them? No. The Liberian children in those communities deserve to go to school. So, citizens living in those towns either ask those who can read and write to teach the children in the towns or some teachers who died were not replaced by qualified ones to teach, but such teachers are not recognised by the Ministry of Education authorities. There could be other several ways that volunteer teachers came about. According to the Ministry of Education, there is a little over 6,000 volunteer teachers across the country mostly from Nimba, Bong, Margibi, Lofa, Bassa and Montserrado counties. Do we need to throw them all out? No. Incorporate the professional and qualified ones and let go the incompetent ones.

Congratulations to all those men and women that have volunteered over these years as teachers in our public schools. We thank them for their sacrifices to the Government and people of Liberia. We will forever remain grateful to them. However, we think it is time to say goodbye to that nomenclature, Volunteer Teachers, in our public schools. Why should all other workers in the public service be paid monthly when some of those that are training and teaching our children and preparing them for life are volunteering in some of our public schools? According to Haynes (2005) human resource is the most significant resource of any given country. It is the people who can do all the other things to keep the state running. So, if a country wants to run well, it must do well with its education system. An education that must do well for a country and its citizens should not be left in the hands of volunteer teachers. Why are our Representatives and Senators not volunteering? Why are those working with them not volunteering? Why are those working in the Executive and Judicial branches of the Government not volunteering?

There are private and religious schools operating in Liberia. There is a policy guiding them such that those working in those schools are required to be competent, qualified, and professional. If this is happening or not, the Ministry of Education ought to know and do the needful. It is the job of the Ministry of Education to ensure that this happens. That is one of the reasons why the Ministry of Education is desterilized from the Minister down to his/her deputies, assistants, County Education Officers (CEOs), District Education Officers (CEOs), the school principals, administrations, and Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) across the country. Those working at the Ministry as Ministers work at the pleasure of the Head of State, President of the Republic, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. The Constitution gives him/her the right to fire those that he/she appoints in the Executive branch of Government at his or her pleasure. Therefore, they must do their best to fix and transform the education system in Liberia. That is their job. There are national and international partners to support Liberia in this endeavour.

AS I SEE IT, there is no shortage of competent, trained, and professional teachers in Liberia. Every year, public and private institutions of learning like universities and colleges or teacher training institutes are graduating students that are capable of teaching in our public schools. Have we thought about organising the new graduates, and getting them orientated to return to the counties and teach in the public schools there? The government should organise what I term as a National Service Program under which such graduates would be deployed in counties and districts in the schools that are short of qualified and professional teachers. Such National Service Program would be like the Peace Corps Program run by the United States of America. The Ministry could operate the program by providing a month-long orientation training for these young college graduates before placing them in the field. I would recommend that those National Service men and women be deployed for two academic years and compensated for their service during their time of service. Even the UN System in which I worked for more than a decade employs UN Volunteers, nationally and internationally. These volunteers are compensated. If there is any national service program presently, I think it should include the issue of solving the problem of Volunteer Teachers.

AS I SEE IT, through the orientation and deployment of the National Service Corps, they will build and gain experience around the country. The Ministry of Education could provide master’s degree scholarships locally or internationally for those completing the National Service Program at the end of their service over the two academic years. This could be an alternative route for those smart students that are incapable of funding their Education for master’s degree programs. The program should be competitive, robust, and meritorious. By operating such program, the government could gradually eradicate the Volunteer Teaching across the country and at the same time enhance the human capital of some smart Liberians that cannot personally enhance their capacities.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Mass Communication as his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other professional diplomas and certificates from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).

 

The Government of Liberia Should Lead Diplomatic Efforts to Keep ECOWAS’ Unity

Sometime ago, the Republics of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso decided that they were preparing to withdraw from the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS). The three countries had experienced undemocratic transitions or transfers of power that ECOWAS is opposed to. The ECOWAS Member Sates imposed selected sanctions on those countries and took other actions to help the 3 West African countries return to democratic leadership by holding free, fair, and transparent elections. These countries have not returned to democratic governance as demanded by ECOWAS. They are all under military rule. Last weekend the ECOWAS Authority ended its 66th Summit in Abuja. ECOWAS officially received notification of the 3 countries’ decision to withdraw from ECOWAS. According to the President of ECOWAS, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have got up to 29th January-29th July 2025 to remain within the ambit of ECOWAS. These countries have reaffirmed their commitment to break away or withdraw from ECOWAS and form their own sub regional union, the Alliance of Sahel Sates.

Geopolitically, the Sahel comprises more than the 3 states of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The three countries as sovereign states have their right to decide what happens to their countries and peoples in terms of remaining within ECOWAS. However, they need to act meticulously in the context of their National Interests. Let us make no mistake. States Must always protect their National Interests and that of their Peoples. National Interest means the Security of the Sate and the Wellbeing of its people. Hence, the 3 countries’ grievances need to be listened to, discussed, and diplomatically negotiated. This is why I welcome the suggestion of the Republic of Liberia articulated by H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai that ECOWAS should remove all sanctions against the 3 countries and increase diplomatic efforts in negotiating with them in the spirit of international Cooperation. No country is truly independent of others.  

The suggestion advanced by Liberia’s President at the just ended 66th Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments is great, welcoming, and relevant. It is only through diplomacy that such intergovernmental negotiation can take place. Indeed, there is strength in Unity.  Regional Solidarity is required no matter what the issues are. There is a very strong connection between international cooperation and sustainable development (Kaydor, 2024). Through international cooperation processes, the ECOWAS region can ensure that mutually agreed outcomes (Ibid) are obtained in the ultimate interests of all member states. The practice of international cooperation either stalls or enhances the attainment of national, regional, and global public goods and amicable outcomes. Official Development Assistance (ODA) is one of the key components of international cooperation that remains a key pillar to the achievement of sustainable development in the mutually beneficial interest of stronger and weaker states.

International cooperation is the fulcrum for sustainable development (Kaydor, 2024). First, international cooperation impacts sustainable development because it is through cooperation that states can attain mutually beneficial outcomes to address both national, regional, and global challenges and problems. Without international cooperation, states will fail to singularly achieve their national interests. Simply put, all states are interdependent. Second, international cooperation has evolved over time moving beyond the traditional practice of bilateral and multilateral cooperation to now include global governance that involves trans governmental networks; transnational private governance; and transnational public-private partnership processes. These global networks are complex but help states and non-state actors to cooperate in attaining national, regional, and global development outcomes bordered on the security of states and the welling of their people. For instance, Liberia just documented citizens of Burkina Faso who have migrated to some counties in the South-Eastern Region. Regional solidarity is needed to support each other citizens and this is what Liberia is doing. 

AS I SEE IT, there is a need to improve regional international cooperation in ECOWAS by enhancing diplomacy and negotiations to ensure that states and non-state actors further commit and fulfill the principles of global partnership. Liberia is a brainchild of ECOWAS formation. The country also benefitted from the support and assistance of ECOWAS during the Liberian Civil War. ECOMOG came to Liberia and some soldiers of Weast African States died in Liberia during our civil war. These are terrible times for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The 3 countries need to advance economic growth and build strong institutions for sustainable development as required under SDG16 on the one hand, while they need to take concrete steps to radically end extreme poverty and pursue the path to sustainable development so their citizens can enjoy the befits of their respective countries, on the other. This can only happen when peace and stability are in place. This is where ECOWAS comes in. The Regional body needs to increase its diplomatic overtures to ensure peace, security, harmony, and National Unity in the region mainly in the countries affected by crises.  Liberia as the lead founder of ECOWAS therefore needs to lead the diplomatic efforts. To help to keep ECOWAS united as a bloc, the Government of Liberia Should Lead Diplomatic Efforts to Keep ECOWAS States together.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Masscom as is his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other diplomas and certificates in professional fields from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com). 

 

The Liberian Government Should Sustainably Manage its Debt Going Forward

Around 2010, the Global Community waived about 4b USD debt for the Republic of Liberia. That was a promise fulfilled in lieu of the Government’s commitment to meeting the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries benchmark. The IMF and World Bank launched the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in 1996 to ensure that no poor country faces an unmanageable debt burden. In 2005, to accelerate progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the HIPC Initiative was supplemented by the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative. By the end of 2023, the Liberian Government had again recorded a total debt of about 2.6b USD. This constitutes both foreign and domestic debt for the Government and People of Liberia. The President Boakai’s Government which came to power in January 2024 recently completed its National Development Plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). We are informed that the five-year AAID is costed at about 8.4b USD and will officially be launched in January 2025. This means that the Government needs to cut down on wasteful spending, drastically crack down on corruption and invest in diversified economic growth corridors to grow the economy so that the resources are availed to fund the AAID.

All these need to happen as the global community encounters and addresses global extreme poverty and pandemics like Mpox, etc. Global poverty has reduced because of the growth achievements made by India and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). However, extreme poverty persists in Africa where this researcher hails from. In Africa, poverty is a widespread phenomenon, with about a third of the continent's population living in extreme poverty. The World Bank predicts that Sub-Saharan Africa will be home to the majority of the world's poor by 2030. Liberia is Africa’s first independent Republic and therefore needs to lead by example. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened poverty across all countries and regions. However, the global economy is predicted to grow. Africa now faces yet another pandemic, the Mpox that seems to be under control. Official Development Assistance (ODA) is significantly helping Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to cope with growing development demands from citizens.

ODA impacts extreme poverty in numerous ways, although empirical evidence is required to claim causality. However, the fundamental question is not whether ODA works, but rather how can it be made more effective and efficient? Without peace and stability, fragile states, including the Republic of Liberia, cannot grow their economies to embark on sustainable development. Stability cannot be guaranteed amidst widespread poverty. Pandemics add even more worries to poverty situations when they occur. The extreme poor really suffer the most during pandemics. Therefore, pandemics, instability, fragility, and poverty seem to be positively correlated and they are symbiotic. Hence, they need to be addressed urgently and expeditiously as a global public good. Thankfully, global attention concertedly focused on an end to COVID-19 and the most recent Mpox pandemic so that states can return to a linear development trajectory.

Why I contend that advanced economies need to forgive poor countries’ debts because some of the debts have made no quantum impact on national, regional, or global development, I urge the Government of Liberia and other developing countries to sustainably mange the countries’ debt. In some instances, political elites benefit from donors’ monies more than the poor people themselves. Hence, developed States that provide ODA need to be smart in effectively providing aid. They need to increase their share of ODA to assist LDCs and Middle-Income Countries (MICs) to achieve strategic pro-poor and inclusive growth to help alleviate extreme poverty and engage in wealth creation.

AS I SEE IT, the provision of development assistance does not mean that developing states like Liberia must singularly rely on Official Development Assistance. They need to become innovative to grow their own economies and remain accountable and or transparent in handling development assistance. In some instances, donors need to deploy their citizens or nationals and companies in poor states to implement infrastructural development projects and to address economic growth challenges in receiving states so that the assistance does not easily get corrupted. China and Japan have done this before in Liberia where China built the Ministerial complex directly, and Japan constructed the Japanese Freeway directly using their companies. ODA receiving countries like Liberia need to supervise the projects and program implementation processes by those foreign individuals and companies to mutually prevent corruption.

AS I SEE IT and in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, institutions are deep determinants of growth. Therefore, to alleviate poverty, developing states including Liberia need to build inclusive and effective institutions that will protect the rule of law, property rights, ensure macroeconomic stability, as well as provide public goods and services, and invest in health, education, food security, peace, electricity and engage in infrastructural development to achieve sustainable growth. Both donors and recipients need to target development assistance towards economic growth corridors to help enhance and ignite economic growth. This might better serve the needs of the most excluded and vulnerable. The Government of Liberia should therefore sustainably manage the country's debt portfolio.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Masscom as is his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other diplomas and certificates in professional fields from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).

 

The Liberian National Legislature Should Legislate a National Holiday for all Presidents’ birthdays

The Republic of Liberia is 177 years old now. The country historically has had 26 presidents. I think it should be 27 Presidents because the present 26 excludes Hon. James Smith who served as Vice President to E. J. Roye whose death the history of Liberia is controversial about. Hon. James Smith is said to have served a “truncated term” as Acting President after the controversial death of Edwin James Roye (the issue is being researched and discussed in my upcoming peer-reviewed “Liberia’s Presidential/political History”). I have observed that Liberians individually like or love some presidents and dislike or hate others. As a Political Scientist, I understand that this is normal/usual about human beings. We all either hate/oppose or like/love certain people wrongfully or rightfully. This is about our feelings. For whatever we think and will think about all our former, current, and future National Presidents, I hold the view that we should celebrate whatever gains they have made and will make for Liberia. Imagine that Liberia has had the first female elected President in Africa. She is former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Imagine also, Liberia has had the singular African winner of the Ballon d'Or as the Country’s President. He is former President George Manneh Weah. Don’t we need to celebrate their birthdays too? Let us celebrate all our National Leaders for their service to the Republic of Liberia.

 

November 29^th was celebrated once again as former President William V.S Tubman’s 129th birth anniversary. Just after that, November 30^th, 2024, was the 80^th birth anniversary of H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s birthday anniversary also. President Boakai’s birthday was quietly celebrated not only because it is not a national holiday, but also due to the demise of former Senator Prince Y. Johnon from Nimba County, and the death of Hon. John Gray, former Vice President from Grand Cape Mount who served under President Moses Z. Blah from Nimba. President Boakai’s birth anniversary also coincided with the resumption of the direct flight of Ethiopian Airlines to the Republic of Liberia’s Roberts International Airport (RIA). Senator Johnson and Nimba County played a pivotal role in the election of President Boakai. Thank God the Hon. Jeremiah Kpan Koon, Liberia’s current Vice President, was politically groomed by the late Senator Johnson. Historically, President Blah served a shorter Presidential Term in recent times just as former Vice President Hon. James Smith. This could be one of the reasons Hon. James Smith should have been listed as a former President (to be discussed later in full).

 

While I was drafting this opinion on President Tubman’s birth anniversary, a presenter on the ELBC morning show (name withheld) said that “ President Tubman was a Grebo man.” I was shocked by the open declaration on the state radio because this was a historic falsehood. I needed to promptly make the correction. Therefore, I posted on Facebook saying “Happy November 29^th. I just listened to a presenter on ELBC who said President Tubman was a Grebo man. That is historically wrong because Tubman was not a Grebo Man.” Surprisingly, the post attracted a lot of reactions. Some of the reactors displayed a deep-seated ignorance about Tubman’s tribal origin showing an adequate lack of knowledge about the History of Identity in Liberia. Even some of my colleagues, that I expected to be aware of this historical piece of information came arguing about Tubman’s tribal lineage. What puzzled me most was not the argument and counter argument, but that some people I expected to know this did not know. I am therefore made to believe that the scholars in the Liberia academic space need to do more research and published peer-reviewed historical texts about Liberia’s history. This History of Liberia needs to be written and rewritten always. It is possible that the current generation of Liberia has some information gap about the political history of the country. If that is the case just as this President’s issue has unearthed, Then future generations stand to equally get misinformed about several historical facts on Liberia. Hence, there is a need to vigorously teach Liberian History and Civics with the Constitution in all our schools.

Briefly about former President Tubman, he was born in Maryland County, but that does not make him a Grebo man. Any of the tribes could be born anywhere, but our law says you come from your father’s lineage. Tubman’s parents migrated from the United States of America. They were part of the founders of a free slave enclave called Maryland in Africa. There were series of tribal wars between the Americo Liberian settlers and the Grebo people over land acquisition and territorial expansion (to be fully discussed another time). So, President Tubman was a descendent of the settlers in Maryland. He was an Americo Liberian, not a Grebo man like me as other people think and believe. Historically, there has been no Grebo man who became President of Liberia. I was born in Harrisburg where my mother hails from, but my father originated from Maryland then. He was a Grebo man. So, I am a Grebo man today. Presently, my hometown falls in Grand Kru County. Interestingly though, some people think that I am a Kru man simply because my County is called Grand Kru. However, people need to know that the Grebo people are the majority in Grand Kru County. I am not a tribalist, but I strongly believe that Liberia’s History should be rightfully written and explained. The Truth remains my guidepost.

AS I SEE IT, and as it is, Liberia only celebrates the birth anniversaries of two of its former presidents as National Holidays. Liberia nationally celebrates the birth anniversary of former President Joseph Jekins Roberts, first President of the Republic, and that of former  President William V.S Tubman, the 18^th President of the Republic. Should we not celebrate the birthdays of the rest? All other Presidents’ birth anniversaries are not legislated as National Holidays. Do we need to make all their birth anniversaries National Holidays? No! I do not think so. If we did so, we would have about a whole month for former Presidents’ birth anniversaries as National holidays. Did all former Presidents of Liberia do something that the country should celebrate? Yes! I think all of them have done and will do good things. I therefore think and strongly recommend to the National Legislature to kindly legislate a single National Holiday to celebrate all our presidents up to now and in the future. This is why I am recommending the legislation of what I prefer to be called a “National Presidents’ Day.” If this were legislated, no president’s birth anniversary would be left out now and in the future.

 

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development’. He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Masscom as is his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other diplomas and certificates in professional fields from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).