PRETORIA, South Africa – Liberia has launched a bold push to transform its public service, with Minister Without Portfolio Hon. Mamaka Bility leading a strategic mission to South Africa to secure a groundbreaking academic partnership with the University of South Africa (UNISA), aimed at training and empowering staff of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) through specialized distance-learning programs.
The six-day study tour, hosted by South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Hon. Maropene Ramokgopa, is designed to build lasting institutional capacity and foster innovation across key sectors of Liberia’s governance infrastructure. At the heart of this initiative is a commitment to strengthen the PDU, which plays a central role in implementing the Liberian president’s development agenda.
Speaking at UNISA’s main campus in Pretoria, Minister Bility emphasized Liberia’s approach to reform—not by replacing public servants, but by equipping them with the skills needed to deliver results.
“We currently have dedicated staff within the Presidential Delivery Unit,” Bility said. “Rather than replacing them, we want to empower them through structured distance learning. UNISA is a natural partner for us. With your expertise in distance education and curriculum development, we can design a program tailored for Liberia’s realities.”
UNISA, the continent’s largest open-distance learning institution, is renowned for its work in post-conflict and developing states. Its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, welcomed the partnership, highlighting its alignment with UNISA’s core mission to build resilient African institutions.
“This partnership speaks to our core mission—to empower Africans through knowledge,” said Prof. LenkaBula. “As we’ve done in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, we will work with Liberia to build agile, self-sufficient institutions that can drive transformation from within.”
The partnership will involve designing targeted training modules in public administration, development planning, governance, and infrastructure—disciplines deemed crucial for improving service delivery in Liberia. The collaboration is especially timely as the West African nation seeks to improve its food systems, roll out school garden programs, and reduce reliance on international aid, particularly in the wake of a freeze in USAID support.
Beyond the PDU, the discussions between the two governments also touched on youth development, agricultural education, and technical skills training—highlighting the broader ambition to modernize Liberia’s public sector through homegrown, knowledge-based solutions.
South Africa’s Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Prof. Iqbal Jhazbhay, also participated in the high-level meetings, underscoring the longstanding solidarity between the two nations. Liberia’s support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle and former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s memorable address at UNISA were cited as enduring symbols of that bond.
Minister Bility described the visit as “a bridge between two African countries that understand the value of solidarity, knowledge, and shared development.”
“This tour is not just about capacity building,” she added. “It’s about collaboration, innovation, and designing systems that will serve our people for generations to come.”
The visit will culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Liberia’s PDU and UNISA—formalizing an ambitious new chapter in African-led development, academic excellence, and transformative public service delivery.
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