MONROVIA – In a ceremony rich with symbolism and personal history, the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) officially opened its new headquarters today, framing the moment not merely as a corporate milestone but as a testament to national perseverance and the fragile, enduring thread of institutional memory.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, and a host of government dignitaries gathered as NOCAL’s President and CEO, Fabian Michael Koffa, delivered a poignant dedication. His remarks traced a 23-year journey from aspiration to reality, underscoring a central, sensitive theme: in Liberia’s development, visions are often inherited, delayed, but must never be abandoned.
“This headquarters is more than just bricks and glass,” Koffa stated, welcoming the assembled officials. “It stands as a symbol of national ambition, shared perseverance, and the unwavering belief that responsible leadership is key to building a brighter energy future.”
The event was charged with a sense of redemption, particularly for Koffa, who first joined NOCAL in 2010. He recounted the initial 2010-2012 push under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to secure and convert the former National Housing Bank building—a project that “was a watershed moment” before it stalled following a leadership transition.
“The project was unfortunately put aside—a disappointment that tested our determination,” he acknowledged, detailing over a million dollars in initial investments that seemed, for a time, to lead nowhere. “But in that pause, we learned our most important lesson: resilience isn’t optional, it’s essential.”
Koffa framed the completed headquarters, now at a different location in the capital, as a victory of continuity over disruption. He paid specific tribute to the pioneers who first championed the vision: former CEOs Cllr. Saifuah Mai Gray and Hon. Jake Kabakollie, and former Officer-In-Charge Attorney Rustonlyn S. Dennis.
“Their contributions are not buried in old reports,” he asserted. “They are etched into the very steel of this structure… We are not just building on their foundation; we are honoring their blueprint.”
The CEO’s personal narrative underscored the day’s deeper message. “Today, I am honored to stand before you, 15 years later… entrusted by His Excellency, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., to fulfill a reimagined dream for our time,” he said, connecting his own journey to the broader principle that “national assets belong to the Liberian people and must endure beyond any single administration.”
He expressed profound gratitude to mentors like NOCAL’s first CEO under President Sirleaf, Dr. Fodee Kromah, and former CEO Mr. Christopher Z. Neyor, whose early groundwork and continued counsel paved the way.
Strategically, Koffa positioned the new building as a “mission control” for a transformed NOCAL. “It enhances corporate governance, operational efficiency, and safety,” he said, “but more importantly, it heralds the vision to rebrand NOCAL as an integrated oil and gas company.” He called it a “tangible promise to the Liberian people” of stability, transparency, and ambition.
The ceremony concluded with a clear call to action. Koffa vowed to modernize the company, build local capacity, foster transparency, and ensure the responsible development of Liberia’s hydrocarbon resources for the benefit of all citizens.
“Today, we celebrate the unity of purpose that makes great achievements possible,” Koffa concluded, before inviting guests to tour the facility—a new, physical anchor for a national dream that weathered years of uncertainty to finally stand as a beacon of Liberia’s energy aspirations.
