Senate Resolution No. 4384

BY: Senator PARKER

HONORING B. Elias Shoniyin upon the occasion of
his designation for special recognition by FACE
Africa at its Ninth Annual Wash Gala on March 31,
2018

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to call attention
to those events which serve to enhance the cultural enrichment and
preserve the heritage of Africa; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
B. Elias Shoniyin upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by FACE Africa at its Ninth Annual Wash Gala "A Night
Celebrating African Excellence" to be held at The Current at Chelsea
Piers, New York, New York, on Saturday, March 31, 2018; and

WHEREAS, The FACE Africa WASH Gala is held annually in New York City
to raise awareness and funds for clean water projects; in addition, it
is a celebration of Africans and Friends of Africa making a difference
in their respective industries and communities; and

WHEREAS, This year, FACE Africa's goal is to raise $500,000 to
provide Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs and facilities to
communities in rural Liberia and Nigeria; and

WHEREAS, The theme for this year's gala "Water Fuels the Future" is
more than a statement, it is the recognition that the availability of
clean drinking water is a prerequisite to achieving all of the other
development indicators like health, education, gender equality, growth,
community commerce, agriculture, and self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS, B. Elias Shoniyin earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a
major in Sociology and a minor in Demography from the University of
Liberia; and

WHEREAS, Satisfying his aspiration for a successful future and his
desire to positively contribute to the development of Liberia, B. Elias
Shoniyin entered the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was awarded an Advanced Postgraduate
Diploma in International Relations and Contemporary Diplomacy; and

WHEREAS, After an uninterrupted period of public service, B. Elias
Shoniyin travelled to Australia and enrolled at the Crawford School of
Economics and Government, Australian National University and was awarded
a postgraduate diploma in Public Administration, with emphasis on Public
Sector Management; he later re-enrolled at the same university and was
awarded a Master's of Public Policy degree, specializing in Development
Policy; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his career, B. Elias Shoniyin has also served as
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Economic
Cooperation and Integration and as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs
for International Cooperation and Economic Affairs; he worked as a

Master Trainer with World Vision Liberia, and as a Mentor and Social
Mobilization Officer with Habitat for Humanity; and

WHEREAS, In addition, this esteemed man was contracted by the
Ministry of Health on a UNICEF program as Team Leader, and served as
Administrative Officer for POINTED, a local nonprofit organization; and

WHEREAS, B. Elias Shoniyin is a former member of the board of
directors of the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Liberia National
Small Arms Commission; he also served as a member of the Government of
Liberia delegation to the United Nations General Assembly where he
participated as an Adviser of the Second, Third and Forth Committees;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor B. Elias Shoniyin upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by FACE Africa at its Ninth Annual Wash Gala on March 31,
2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to B. Elias Shoniyin.