UN Liberia celebrates UN Day 2024 with launch of first regional UN Hub

Tools Donation by the UN in Liberia to Grand Gedeh Superintendent’s Office

Zwedru, October 17, 2024- In preparation for the UN Day 2024 celebrations and launch of the first UN Hub, a donation of supplies for cleanup of Zwedru City was donated by the UN In Liberia to County authorities. 

Speaking during the turnover ceremony, Ngonga Margaret Gulavic. Head of RCO, noted that these supplies were donated in support of the cleanup exercise that the County authorities was carrying out to give the city a facelift ahead of the UN Hub launch and UN Day on October 24th. 

The County Superintendent, Honorable Alex Grant expressed his appreciation for the gesture, highlighting the cordial relationship with the UN team on the ground in Zwedru. He assured that all was on course for the launch of the Hub and the UN day celebrations. “Grand Gedeh welcomes the UN to our county, and we are looking forward to October 24th. Spirits are high and we anticipate that the events will go very well”, he stated. 

Supplies and tools included cutlasses, wheelbarrows, shovels, gallons of paint, amongst others.  

Children and Adolescents from Zwedru highlight their aspirations for a Sustainable Future

As part of events leading to the launch of UN Liberia’s regional hub in Zwedru, Southeast Liberia, students from various schools in the city painted colorful depictions of what they envision their future to be in Liberia. 

Student Clarence Toenah of the Zwedru Multilateral High School was one of the participants on this occasion. “When I look forward to my future, I see better, modern roads and electricity. I also so conservation of our forest and animals”.   Other students highlighted schools, clean water and health facilities. 

The paintings are currently on display at the One UN Hub in Zwedru. 

Zwedru comes alive with parade of students, UN and county officials in Commemoration of UN Day and Hub launch

Exciting scenes from Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County on October 23rd as local authorities, students, and UN Staff came together for a colorful parade in anticipation of UN Day/ UN Hub launch on October 24, 2024. 

An inter-school football and kickball tournament. These various recreational activities brought together hundreds of pupils from primary and secondary schools in and around the town of Zwedru.

UN Liberia’s first regional Hub is launched in Zwedru

All roads in Zwedru led to the One UN Hub on White Avenue on October 24th morning, as the brief ceremony for the opening of the Hub commenced. 

The UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team, UN staff, county authorities, partners and government officials were present. The Minister of Internal Affairs, F. Sakila Nyumalin and the Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Jallah, who represented His Excellency President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, also graced the occasion. 

After welcome remarks and hoisting of the flags, the Hub was then opened by the cutting of the ribbon. The event climaxed with a tour of the Hub by the guests present. 

UN Day Official Ceremony

The official programme for the UN Day Commemoration followed the launching of the Hub at the Tori Vii Hall in Zwedru. Exuberant songs from the Zwedru Mass choir roused the crowd and inspiring speeches followed. 

The Superintendent of Greater Gedeh began by welcoming the Minister of National Education, representing the President of the Republic, the Minister of Internal Affairs, his own Minister, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, and the entire United Nations family in Liberia. On behalf of all his fellow Superintendents, he went on to express his delight at the Southeast region's hosting of the first United Nations Hub in Liberia, as well as welcoming the UN Day celebrations outside the capital for the first time. Finally, he expressed the fervent hope that this proximity to the interventions of the United Nations system would have a positive impact on the communities of Greater Gedeh and the South-East as a whole.

On behalf of the entire UN family in Liberia, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Christine Umutoni first and foremost expressed her deep gratitude to the government and county authorities, whose commitment to the event resulted in it being a resounding success. “The presence of two important members of the cabinet, including the Minister of Education, personal representative of the President of the Republic, speaks volumes about the political will. I want to extend my thanks to the communities, in particular the young people, women, and local authorities, and emphasize that the massive mobilization over two days was proof enough of the enthusiasm and warm welcome shown by the communities”, said Resident Coordinator Umutoni. “The Hub is not just a building, but is the UN working closer with communities and leaving no one behind”, she emphasized.

She noted that the Hub is a commitment of the United Nations to contribute to the acceleration of the SDGs in Liberia for the benefit of women, children, young people, and the entire community. 

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Honorable F. Sakila Nyumalin, focused his speech on the opportunity presented by the opening of a Hub for the entire United Nations system in the South-East region. “The Hub establishment is an important pool for boosting social and economic development throughout the country, and ultimately for the well-being of the communities.” The Minister emphasized that this Hub is fully in line with the decentralization policy, which is part of the county development plan within the Arrest Agenda Inclusive Development. Finally, the Minister urged the United Nations family to work to make this Hub a true pool of integration and complementarity to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in the country for the benefit of the people.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Jallah, representing the President of the Republic, spoke first and foremost to the communities of Grand Gedeh and the South-East as a whole, to convey to them the distinguished greetings and deep gratitude of the President of the Republic. The Minister recalled Liberia's place and historic commitment within the United Nations system, of which it is a founding member. “The concept of the Hub, which is a community-centered base approach (celebration of UN day and launch of UN Hub in Zwedru), is consistent with itself and in full compliance with the Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), which focuses on decentralization and community-based development, particularly at county level. “The Minister urged the United Nations family to stay the course so that this more community-based approach has a rapid impact on the well-being of communities. 

A special message was also delivered by Student Tina Chapayee on the aspirations of the youth- better education, protection from SGBV and opportunities. She passionately urged government and development partners including the UN, not to give up on the youth of Liberia.