Published: October 5, 2026
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – The Africa International Institute of Science and Technology University College is seeking a share of the national budget, telling House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon it has already earned public support by training at least 280 security and public-service personnel tuition-free and funding scholarships for dozens of students.
AIIST President Ishmael V. Conneh presented the request to Koon over the weekend. Koon said he would put it before other lawmakers.
“I’ll get this to my colleagues for onward deliberations and subsequent considerations,” Koon said.
Conneh cast the request as an investment rather than a handout.
“We have not come here simply to ask government for money. We have come to make a case for investment in Liberia’s people,” he said.
He said the tuition-free training, which he valued at at least $90,000 [DESK: confirm US$ or L$ for all figures], covered personnel from the Liberia National Police, Armed Forces of Liberia, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia Immigration Service, Executive Protection Service, Liberia National Fire and Rescue Service, Liberia Land Authority and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Conneh said AIIST also funds scholarships for more than 75 high-performing students from at least 50 high schools, at an estimated $76,000 a year, and supports about 65 basketball and football players at about $21,500 a year.
He said the institution helped extend the government’s Liberia Digital Transformation Project to Lofa, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi counties, part of a national effort that reached more than 10,000 young Liberians.
Conneh said public funding would let AIIST expand its training and scholarships and improve its laboratories, internet connectivity and technology infrastructure. He said the institution would accept government transparency, reporting, monitoring and audit requirements on any public money it receives.
“We are prepared to demonstrate that public investment produces measurable public benefit,” he said.
AIIST offers degree programs in information technology, environmental science, electrical engineering technology, maritime logistics and technology, social work, business administration and Islamic education. Koon singled out its course offerings.
“Some of the courses you offer, I guess you’re the only one offering, and it’s welcoming,” he said.
Conneh said AIIST was not claiming to be the only institution deserving public support, but urged lawmakers to weigh its existing contribution when considering the request.
“When Liberia invests in education, Liberia invests in its people,” he said.
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