The Government of Liberia has officially appointed Ambassador Emmett Lafayette Dunn as National Orator for the country’s 178th Independence Day Celebration, set to be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Ambassador Dunn currently serves as the Special Presidential Envoy for Partnership and Philanthropy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a role in which he operates pro bono.
He is being widely praised as a strategic selection that aligns with the Boakai administration’s development framework – the ARREST Agenda which emphasizes Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
Ambassador Dunn brings to the national stage a wealth of experience in global leadership, religious service, and philanthropy.
He is the Executive Secretary and CEO of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, a U.S.-based Christian mission organization founded in 1897.
Notably, he is the first non-U.S.-born individual to lead the institution in its 127-year history.
Under his stewardship, Lott Carey supports initiatives in 14 countries, managing a multimillion-dollar budget annually and focusing on evangelism, advocacy, and community empowerment.
Before his leadership at Lott Carey began in 2019, Ambassador Dunn served for over two decades in various capacities within the Baptist World Alliance, including as Director of the Youth Department and the Baptist World Congress.
His work took him to more than 100 countries, where he championed peacebuilding, youth leadership, and global mission engagement.
He also pastored the West Hyattsville Baptist Church in Maryland, USA.
A native Liberian, Dunn was ordained in December 1987 at Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, where he served as Director of Christian Education.
He remains a committed advocate for Liberia’s development through faith-based leadership and diplomatic engagement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) has unveiled a comprehensive schedule of events to commemorate the nation’s 178th Independence Day. Speaking at MICAT’s regular press briefing on Thursday, July 17, 2025,
Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah said this year’s celebration will be anchored on themes of national unity, inclusiveness, patriotism, and infrastructure advancement.
The festivities will officially begin on Friday, July 18, with a National Intercessory Prayer Service at the Unity Foundation Mosque in the Fish Market Community, Sinkor.
On Saturday, July 19, Liberians will participate in a National Sports Day at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville an initiative designed to foster peace and healthy competition.
A Christian Thanksgiving Service will follow on Sunday, July 20, at Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church on Broad Street, bringing together religious leaders and citizens from across the country in a unified act of worship.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to begin a series of project dedications on Monday, July 21.
Among the highlights will be the inauguration of the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Headquarters and laboratory on SekouToure Avenue in Mamba Point, as well as the opening of a Rest-Stop Center in Beyan Town, Lofa County.
On Tuesday, July 22, focus shifts to Bomi County, where the maternity ward at the Bomi County Health Center in Tubmanburg will be officially reopened following renovation.
In Bong County, Wednesday, July 23, will witness the dedication of a modern model school under the Ministry of Education.
That same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will launch Decentralized Passport Services in Bong and Grand Gedeh Counties, enhancing access to travel documents.
The prestigious National Investiture Ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 24, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, recognizing Liberians and foreign nationals for outstanding contributions to the nation.
On Friday, July 25, the spotlight will be on the younger generation with a Youth Town Hall Meeting and the vibrant “Heritage in Color” carnival, a cultural showcase celebrating Liberia’s diverse traditions.
The official Independence Day ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 26, featuring a flag-raising ritual, a presidential troop review, and a military and paramilitary parade at the Barclay Training Center (BTC).
A formal ceremony will follow at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion, expected to draw dignitaries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international partners.
The weeklong celebration will conclude on Sunday, July 27, with a Children’s Socialization Day, organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
President Boakai and First Lady Kartumu Boakai are expected to host children from across the country at a venue to be announced.
Minister Piah encouraged nationwide participation and peaceful celebration.
“The 178th Independence Anniversary is not just a commemoration of our founding,” he said, “It is a reaffirmation of our collective resolve to build a better Liberia.”