Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., was born on November 30, 1944, in Wasonga, Lofa County, northwest Liberia, the 5th of seven siblings. He served as the 30th Vice President of the Republic of Liberia (2006-2017) in the administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female head of state. He previously ran for President of Liberia in 2017 and lost to former President George Manneh Weah.

Early Life, Education, and Career

The story of Joe Boakai’s rise to national prominence is inspiring. Born to poor peasants in the remote village of Wasonga in Lofa County, Joe was determined to pursue education from an early age. He walked more than 300 miles twice from Wasonga to Monrovia in search of his dream to be educated. Along the way, he made stops in various places, including Bomi Hills and the Firestone Plantation in Harbel, where he helped his guardian tap rubber for a living.

In Monrovia, he enrolled and graduated from the College of West Africa (CWA), one of Liberia’s prestigious secondary schools. Joe Boakai later graduated from the University of Liberia with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. At CWA, he worked as a janitor, rising to become Assistant Dean of boys, and paid his way through school by working in the Business Office. Joe was later recruited by the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC) and assigned to head its branch in Voinjama, Lofa County. He introduced many reforms, empowering cocoa, coffee, and oil palm farmers by improving their incomes. His hard work earned him the position of Managing Director of LPMC in 1980, becoming the first Liberian to occupy that position. Boakai was later appointed Minister of Agriculture. In 1991, he served as Managing Director of the Liberian Petroleum Refining Corporation (LPRC) under the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) during the Liberian Civil Conflict.

Political Career: Vice Presidency and Presidential Run

Joe Boakai’s dedication to Liberia is evident in his career. Elected Vice President under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2005, Boakai held the position for 12 years. He played a key role domestically and on the global stage in shaping policies that set the country on the track to recovery. When President Sirleaf’s two terms ended, Vice President Joe Boakai ran for president in 2017 but lost to George Weah in a runoff. However, he remained determined to serve his country, declaring his intention to contest the October 10, 2023, presidential elections.

Integrity and Honesty

Known for his honesty and integrity, Joe Boakai has championed public integrity and anti-corruption throughout his public career. He once stated, “Corruption in all its manifestations brings about underdevelopment and deprivation, and that is what African leaders should fight against.” His disciplined nature was evident even during his years at CWA, where he was never a penny short in the Business Office.

The Humanitarian

Joe Boakai is selfless and compassionate in his private and public life. Since 2006, he has stepped up his humanitarian efforts, providing assistance to the needy in Liberian society. He has funded hundreds of scholarships and medical treatments for many Liberians. The programs of the Joseph Nyuma Boakai Foundation reflect his commitment to development and humanitarian work.

Joe Boakai is widely embraced as a role model for Liberians from all walks of life and ages. He is a living example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and perseverance. A devout Christian and a Senior Deacon at the Effort Baptist Church, he has been married to his spouse, Kartumu Yatta, for 50 years, and together they have four children.