“Stop Giving, Start Building, Liberia Needs Institutions, Not Handouts”

The Deputy Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Emmanuel Nuku Reeves, has called on the United Bassa Organizations in the Americas (UNIBOA) to shift its diaspora engagement from short-term charitable giving toward long-term investment in education, institutions and leadership development in Liberia.

Delivering his keynote address at UNIBOA’s 35th National Convention, held under the theme “Today’s Success Is Inspired by Building Tomorrow’s Milestones,” Reeves noted that “Sustainable development does not happen by accident.” He stressed that lasting change requires foresight, planning and collective action rather than one-off gestures of goodwill.

The gathering marked 35 years of the organization’s work supporting Bassa communities and Liberia more broadly.

The LMA Deputy Commissioner opened his address by honoring UNIBOA’s 35 years history, crediting the organization with scholarships, healthcare initiatives, medical supply donations and efforts to preserve Bassa cultural heritage over the past three and a half decades. He framed those achievements as evidence of what sustained diaspora unity can accomplish, while arguing that the moment now calls for a more ambitious, structural approach to development.

The centerpiece of Reeves’ recommendations was a proposal for UNIBOA to establish a major scholarship endowment fund, a permanent financial base capable of supporting Liberian students pursuing higher education on an ongoing basis, rather than through periodic grants. He argued that such an endowment could help build a pipeline of professionals in medicine, engineering, law, technology, education and business, strengthening not just the Bassa region but Liberia as a whole.

He also urged the organization to pursue partnerships that generate jobs, encourage innovation and support local businesses, positioning the diaspora as an active partner in Liberia’s economic development rather than a source of periodic aid.

“The diaspora therefore occupies a unique and indispensable place in Liberia’s development journey,” Reeves told delegates, adding that diaspora contributions should extend into intellectual capital, institution-building and leadership development areas he described as the real foundation for the country’s future.

He tied his remarks to Liberia’s broader national priorities, citing agriculture, road infrastructure, rule of law, education, sanitation and tourism as sectors requiring sustained diaspora attention and investment.

During the convention, Reeves announced a $15,000 contribution to support UNIBOA’s programs, describing it as part of a continuing tradition of service he encouraged members to build upon.

Reeves challenged delegates not to let the convention become a routine annual gathering, but to treat it as a platform for strategic planning, innovation and new initiatives. He urged members to “think bigger, dream larger, and act bolder,” and to prioritize investment in people over standalone projects.

The convention also paused for a moment of silence in memory of the late Hon. Janjay Baikpeh, former Superintendent of Grand Bassa County.

Closing his address, Reeves called on UNIBOA to mentor young people, build bridges between the diaspora and homeland, and create opportunities for the next generation.

“The future is calling. History is watching. Our homeland is expecting. The next generation is waiting,” he said, urging the organization to turn “possibilities into progress, dreams into reality, and service into a lasting legacy.”