The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) and the University of Botswana have deepened their collaborative efforts to foster Africa’s development through education, innovation, and data-driven strategies.
The collaboration reached a new height during a recent meeting at LISGIS headquarters, where key officials from both institutions gathered to discuss the importance of education and statistical capacity-building for Liberia’s development goals.
Speaking during the event, Richard F. Ngafuan, Director General of LISGIS, highlighted the historical significance of Liberia’s leadership on the African continent. He noted that Liberia, established in 1847 as the first independent African republic, continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Africa.
“It is a great pleasure to see our fellow Africans traversing from the north of the Limpopo, through the thick forests of the Congo, across the coasts of Benin, to the green shores of Liberia, the oldest independent country in Africa,” Ngafuan said. He also reflected on Liberia’s founding by freed slaves and its ongoing commitment to freedom, unity, and advancement.
Hon. Ngafuan stressed Liberia’s continuing leadership on the global stage, citing his own role as the Chair of the African Statistical Commission. He further expressed pride in the nation’s commitment to supporting Africa’s future, which is reflected in LISGIS’ efforts to build human capital and enhance the use of data for national development.
Welcoming the delegation from the University of Botswana, led by Vice Chancellor Professor David Norris, Ngafuan expressed gratitude for the partnership, acknowledging the spirit of African unity it embodies. “On behalf of President H.E. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr., and the Government of Liberia, we say welcome. As you return to Botswana, kindly extend our warmest and brotherly greetings, reflecting the hospitality you experienced here,” he said.
Ngafuan also highlighted Africa’s demographic advantage, with over 1.5 billion people, and lamented the persistent trade barriers and visa restrictions that continue to hinder the continent’s integration. He emphasized that the future of Africa rests on innovation, education, and research, urging the continent to move beyond reliance on natural resource extraction.
“The future belongs to nations that innovate, invent, and empower their people through education, technology, and research, not just those that produce timber, gold, and diamonds,” he stated.
In line with Liberia’s transformation agenda, Ngafuan revealed that through the Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) Project, LISGIS has sent nine students—one Ph.D. candidate and eight master’s degree candidates—to pursue degrees in Statistics at the University of Botswana.
This initiative, he stressed, is critical for achieving Liberia’s development goals, including the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, African Union Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Without informed decision-making based on quality data and rigorous statistical methodologies, no development plan can succeed,” Ngafuan emphasized.
Furthermore, Ngafuan disclosed that LISGIS currently has 24 staff members enrolled in universities across Africa, including in Tanzania and Nigeria, alongside local capacity-building programs at the University of Liberia. He stressed that these efforts are aimed at building an army of well-trained statisticians and professionals to drive Liberia’s economic transformation.
In his remarks, Professor David Norris, Vice Chancellor of the University of Botswana, described the visit as a “homecoming,” having first visited Liberia in 2022. He praised the Liberian people for their hospitality and the progress made through the partnership.
“We were warmly received then, and we are pleased to be back,” Norris said. He underscored the critical importance of decision-making based on empirical evidence rather than speculation, noting that knowledge is now the world’s most valuable resource. “The top ten richest companies today are knowledge-based enterprises like Google, no longer resource companies,” he said.
Norris also stressed the need for African universities to evolve beyond traditional teaching methods and to embrace research, innovation, and engagement with society. He highlighted the significance of the “Triple Helix” model, which fosters strong partnerships between universities, government, and industry, and also the emerging “Quadruple Helix,” which includes civil society.
He commended the collaboration between LISGIS, the University of Liberia, and the University of Botswana as a model for how African institutions can address the continent’s challenges together.
Professor Weade Kobbah Boley, Vice President for Institutional Development and Planning at the University of Liberia, also spoke at the event, praising the progress made since the signing of the trilateral agreement. She noted that the partnership has already resulted in significant contributions to Liberia’s development through graduate and postgraduate training in Education.
“This collaboration could not have come at a more crucial time,” Prof. Boley said. “Given shifting global dynamics, African countries must increasingly look within, form cooperative partnerships, and build self-reliance.”
She concluded by affirming that the Liberia-Botswana partnership represents a significant step towards empowering African institutions and uplifting the continent through homegrown solutions.
