Liberia: A tribute to Dr. Florence Alletta Chenoweth, Former Minister of Agriculture

By: Axel M. Addy,  Former Minister of Commerce and Industry

In public service, sometimes far and few between, one is privileged to be in the company of legends, to be that student in a class of those whose stories are written about. 

My story with Dr. Florence Chenoweth began sometime in early 2013 when we first spoke about my acceptance to return home after my PSI tour of Liberia to join public service and my desire to revive the LPMC. It was a short, direct, and professional conversation and we would not speak again until I went on to Commerce instead. 

But very quickly, at Commerce as head of that institution, Dr. Chenoweth became my colleague and quickly the quiet wisdom I leaned on in navigating public service. Again, a consistent consummate professional with a quirky sense of humor and an infectious laugh. 

I was privileged to work with her on a number of initiatives including the Made in Liberia Trade Fair, Liberian Marketplace, activities to match farmers with buyers, the Eat Your Pride campaign to promote local rice consumption for school feeding programs and all public procurement for hospitals, the military, ministries 26th, etc., all under the new Small Business Empowerment Act (SBEA) and implemented by the new Small Business Administration (SBA) at Commerce. 

Our interactions would then increase as MoA led Liberia's trade negotiations and dialogues on Agriculture for AGOA, CFTA, ECOWAS CET, EPA etc. In these interactions, I learned a lot from Aunty Flo as we affectionately called her. To sum it up, I learned that:

1. Showing up to meetings on time, regardless of your perception of the rank and proximity of your colleague to the presidency.
2. Providing constructive feedback and advice that is useful, based on expertise, facts, advice from team and respecting those receiving it.
3. Respecting your colleagues and being helpful and collaborative while investing in your team - she educated a lot of young people.
4. Speaking your mind but in a respectful manner.
5. Putting in the work to be prepared to represent your country well; which happens to be Africa’s oldest democracy.
6. Never forgetting you belong to a village, remembering to give back always.
7. No matter what, God first, family second, and service above self-third.
8. Not taking yourself too too seriously, "we all make mistake," learning to laugh it off, learning from it and moving on.
9. There is a time for play, time for rest, time for work; understanding when it's time for work and doing the work. Remembering you represent Africa's oldest democracy - act like it when 'wearing' her flag.
10. Expand your village beyond your household, community, country, religion, ethnicity - at the end of the day, we belong to one humanity.

These lessons helped me a lot in public service. I had the privilege of sitting next to Aunty Flo in Cabinet for several years and going on several international missions for AGOA, WTO, etc. When it was time to work, oh we worked, and we saw the results in the presentations of Liberia's positions in negotiations.

I often wondered, if her generation, seems to be on some kind of vitamin that allows them to start an early day and go through a marathon of meetings, make it back to the hotel to write speeches, meet with their teams and start the next day again without any signs of distress - a privilege I pray many of us in our generation are blessed to maintain - that level of astuteness in our golden years-just simply brilliant. 

I recalled once in Geneva, we landed that early morning. This time, we brought our highest-ranking official to finalize Liberia's agriculture positions for the WTO negotiations, Dr. Florence Chenoweth. We went from the hotel to the WTO to review the work of the technicians, to the meetings, and then on to the press briefings, which also included responding to questions on EBOLA and the effects on food security in the country.

It was a show to see this Liberian gem take on questions, then private questions after the press briefings, and then go on to the side events and work the room with the partners flawlessly. So many lessons, and as her student, I took notes - a senior agriculture expert with stories to tell, and a deep passion for Mama Liberia, but with that infectious laugh that won over partners who were glued to her ever-word-like fans to their favorite star. When you have legends like her, you leave the room with commitments. It was a privilege and an honor to witness. 

Over dinner in Addis, on another mission, we were glued to the stories of her career and were in tears with laughter at such a rich journey operating in the 70s as head of an institution in a man's world-sometimes having to remind others that she was not the minister’s secretary but the minister.

Then, she epitomized what Nina Simone's anthem meant to be "young gifted and black." Watching her effortlessly do interviews, briefings, and speeches on those many trips, I would say, as we say in our Liberian parlance "book see book, book hide." I was a proud student, but most importantly, a proud Liberian. She carried our flag high.

Dr. Florence Alletta Chenoweth, Sister Chenoweth, Aunty Flo. thank you for your service above self. You have gained your wings and Ieft a lot of us more informed, more inspired, more committed to service above self by simply being you. 

I can only imagine the echoes of your infectious laughter among the angels. Until we meet again, fare thee well.