GEIRG

Former Deputy Foreign Minister, Republic of Liberia, and World Fellow, Yale University Elias Shoniyin is a Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, Yale University. He is an international affairs, development, public sector management, policy professional, and former diplomat, with over twenty years of experience in nonprofit and public service, in multiple senior positions where he made significant contributions to the post-war recovery and development of Liberia and Africa generally. Mr. Shoniyin served as Deputy Foreign of Liberia in two successive administrations, and as Acting Foreign Minister for a six-month period. In these roles, Mr. Shoniyin’s leadership inspired strategic reforms in all spheres of the Foreign Ministry and the diplomatic service of post-conflict Liberia. He played a pivotal role in deepening Liberia’s post-conflict cooperation with friendly nations and exploring cooperation opportunities on new frontiers. Prior to the portfolio of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shoniyin also worked as Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, and Assistant Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, Republic of Liberia, respectively. These were complementary to his earlier years of work in international and local nonprofit organizations. An important highlight of Mr. Shoniyin’s foreign affairs career was when he coordinated Liberia’s resource mobilization efforts during the Ebola outbreak in 2014-16, drawing urgent global attention to the health crisis, resulting in the effective containment of the virus in Liberia. He led Liberian government delegations to many high-level international conferences and negotiations, including serving as Advisor at the United Nations General Assemblies and sitting as a Member of the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Committees of the Assembly. He also served as senior member of Liberian delegation at Assemblies of African Union, ECOWAS and Mano River Union (MRU), for more than thirteen years. Mr. Shoniyin is a lecturer of International Relations at the University of Liberia graduate school, and Founder/CEO of the B. Elias Shoniyin Education Empowerment Foundation, which has financed the education of more than fifty Liberian youth, including eighteen currently. For his life’s accomplishments, he has received multiple international recognitions and accolades including his admittance into the Humane Order of African Redemption, with the Grade of Knight Commander; 2015 recipient of the of the African and Caribbean Business Council (ACBC) Leadership Award in the United States; Chartered Fellowship Awards as Eminent Ambassador of the International Association of World Peace Advocates; Resolution of honor by the New York State Legislative Assembly; Citation of Honor, New York City Council; Citation of Honor, New York Senate; Keynote Speaker and Guest of Honor at many high-level events including at FACE Africa Ninth Annual WASH Gala in New York City, etc. Mr. Shoniyin is a proud Liberia who has been globally recognized for his work and contribution to humanity, including his announcement last year by Yale University as a World Fellow – He is global “trailblazers: disruptive thinker and bold; original voice in the field of international affairs and development. He is intensely curious, passionate and keenly focused on positive impact. He can’t help himself: wherever he goes, he profoundly shapes his surroundings for the better”. Ladies and gentlemen, may you all join me, as I welcome to the podium, the Commencement Speaker of the Starz University Fourth Graduation Convocation, Mr. B. Elias Shoniyin!