By Othello Sarweh Nimely
Months of unrelenting and sustained pressure by the Students Unification Party (SUP) along with other concerned institutions seem to yield results, as the Liberian government has announced plans to fast-track the long-delayed renovation of the University of Liberia (UL).
Students, faculty, and the public have long complained of the deteriorating conditions at the country’s premier public university, and prevailed on UL administration and central government to intial steps to address the poor state of the institution’s campuses, which have become a symbol of the challenges facing higher education in Liberia.
Frustration over the conditions has triggered several protests on and off the Capitol Hill campus in recent years.
SUP, the university’s leading student political organization, even took it upon themselves to repaint portions of university buildings in an effort to draw attention to the worsening infrastructure. Their actions, however, also sparked controversy and demonstrations on campus.
Apparently against this backdrop, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has ordered the immediate acceleration of the UL modernization project.
He gave the order following a high-level meeting held on July 4 with Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Sam Steve Quioh, Public Works Minister Roland Layfette Giddings, Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin, and senior officials of the University of Liberia.
An Executive Mansion statement said the president convened the meeting to identify the causes of the prolonged delays affecting the renovation project and to establish measures that will ensure construction work begins without further setbacks.
During the meeting, President Boakai expressed disappointment over the slow implementation of the project despite the government’s substantial financial commitment.
According to the Executive Mansion, approximately US$6.3 million has already been allocated for the modernization of the University of Liberia. However, the President noted that while the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has processed the required funding, there has been no visible progress on the ground.
Boakai instructed all institutions involved to remove administrative and procurement obstacles and ensure that renovation work begins immediately. He further ordered that the priority phase of the project be completed before the reopening of the university for the next academic period.
For years, University of Liberia students have described the learning environment as unsafe and unsuitable for higher education.
Students have repeatedly complained about leaking roofs that disrupt lectures during the rainy season, overcrowded classrooms, broken chairs and desks, poor sanitation facilities, deteriorating buildings, and inadequate learning space across several campuses.
These concerns have fueled demonstrations demanding better conditions and greater government investment in Liberia’s largest public university. Many students believe that improving the institution’s infrastructure is essential to enhancing the quality of education.
The release quoted, the University Administration presented its phased modernization strategy aimed at transforming the institution’s facilities, it includes the construction of a 25-classroom academic building at the Fendall Campus, modernization of the university’s largest academic building, and rehabilitation works at both the Capitol Hill and Sinje campuses.
In the Executive Mansion release, The President stressed that all agencies must coordinate effectively to deliver visible results before students return to campus.
The announcement comes at a critical time as the University of Liberia is currently administering entrance examinations for prospective students seeking admission for the upcoming academic year. Thousands of applicants are expected to enroll once admissions conclude.
Upon the implementation of the US$6.3 million modernization project, teaching and learning conditions is expected to improve at Liberia’s oldest and largest public university.
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