Press Release

Release for publication by authority of the Department of Public and Media Relations, Division of Institutional Advancement, TU.

All rights reserved. Page 1

Release Date: March 28, 2014

Media Contact: Solo Otto Gaye Email: sgaye@tubmanu.edu.lr Cell: 0886709726 Department of Public & Media Relations

Top Liberian Diplomat Releases latest Book in Liberia at Tubman University

H.E. Olubanke King-Akerele has released her latest book for the first time in Liberia and held a signing

ceremony at the William V. S. Tubman University’s Speakers’ Bureau in Tubman Town, Harper, Maryland

County. Her latest book entitled, “The ‘Growing’ of Africa’s Emergent Leadership” was released on

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 with administrators, faculty, staff, and students as well as the Mayors of

Pleebo and Harper, and TU’s Presidential Fellow, Dr. Diane Adams, in attendance.

In the presentation of her book, H.E. King-Akerele said the focus of her newest book is “instructive” in

nature while demonstrating the value and impact of leadership development programs. The book which

presents a documentation of various programs of leadership development over time in several African

countries and their impact as well as profiles of some of Africa’s “Emergent” leaders, is a magnum opus

for enhancing on-going capacity building efforts in Africa; focusing on empowering Africa’s Leadership,

as well as “How” of so doing. In addition, Hon. King-Akerele stated that through the profiles, she was

able to provide a prospective on skills set and expertise of Africa’s Emergent leadership and how they

are contributing to the continent’s development.

Making a summary of her book, the Author said part one of her book covered programs dating back to

1992/93 in Mauritius when her interest was first sparked among high school youth and university

undergraduates; to Zambia which saw the further development of the Otto Essien Young professionals

Training program; to Senegal, under the UNDP/UNESCO’s Africa-wide initiative, Foundations of Africa’s

Future Leadership, (2003-2005). The second part she further said presents programs in post-conflict

Liberia and Sierra Leone, while in the third part are related programs to those describes in parts one

and two and draws lessons showing possible linkages with the concept Growing Africa’s “Emergent”

Leadership Initiative. The fourth part presents profiles of Africa’s “Emergent” Leadership both of the

continent and the Diaspora and lastly, the fifth part presents the way forward and lessons for “Growing”

Africa’s Emergent Leadership.

Press Release

Release for publication by authority of the Department of Public and Media Relations, Division of Institutional Advancement, TU.

All rights reserved. Page 2

Meanwhile, at the signing ceremony, Hon. King-Akerele donated four copies of a chapter of her newest

book to the University’s Library, while proceeds from the sales of her newest book released and signed

at the ceremony will go to the formation of the Liberian Institute for Growing Patriotism club to be

founded at TU, and sales of her book “Women’s Leadership in Post Conflict Liberia: My Journey”, will

support the Gender and Development Center at the University.

The Author is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia. She is also former Minister

of Commerce and Industry. Prior to her public service, she was engaged for 24 years in international

development at senior levels in the United Nations System. Her recent publications include, “Women‘s

Leadership in Post Conflict Liberia: My Journey”, as well as another that she co-authored with Kojo Boafa

Asiedu, “Accelerating Africa’s Integration through Micro-regionalism: The Case of Zambia-Malawi-

Mozambique Growth Triangle and Its Impact.” “The ‘Growing’ of Africa’s Emergent Leadership” was

firstly launched in Zambia in March 2014.

The Speakers’ Bureau is an interactive forum organized by the Department of Public & Media Relations

within the Division of Institutional Advancement with the aim of bringing to the University qualified

speakers with a message of relevance to provoke a positive change.

H.E. King-Akerele signs a book at the ceremony