Published: February 27, 2026
FENDELL – The University of Liberia hosted its 105th Combined Commencement Convocation on Wednesday, graduating more than a thousand students from multiple undergraduate colleges. The ceremony was marked by calls for resilience, national service, and sustained investment in higher education.
President Highlights Scale and Symbolism of Graduation
According to official statistics, Dr. Layli Maparyan, President of the University of Liberia, announced that 1,255 students successfully completed programs across nine colleges and academic divisions, describing the class as both historic and symbolic. “You, all 1,255 of you, are my diamonds,” she told graduates. “Education has polished your gifts, and now you leave this university unbreakable, brilliant and of great worth.”
She noted that the cohort represents the first graduating class under her leadership and the first to complete studies during UL’s 75th anniversary year, urging them to carry forward the institution’s values of education, effectiveness, efficiency, excellence and ethics.
A University Rooted in National History
Established in 1862 as Liberia College and renamed the University of Liberia in 1951, the institution remains Liberia’s oldest and largest public university. For generations, it has produced leaders across government, law, science, and public service, including officials serving in the administration of President Joseph Boakai.
Today, UL remains a cornerstone of the country’s higher education system while pursuing expansion, infrastructure improvements, and stronger research capacity.
Commencement Speaker Urges Resilience and National Duty
Delivering the keynote address, Grand Cape Mount County Senator Daba Varpilah described the graduation as proof that perseverance can reshape both individual futures and the nation’s trajectory. “Resilience is the invisible force that carries you when quitting feels easier than continuing,” she declared. “Your achievement today is not only personal; it is a promise that Liberia’s future can be stronger than its past.”
Senator Varpilah also emphasized the need for increased investment in public universities, improved facilities, and expanded opportunities for students outside Monrovia.
Valedictorian Calls on Class to Conquer Fear
Speaking for the class, valedictorian Jamel Joseph Ghoson, who graduated with a GPA of 3.842 from the T.J.R. Faulkner College of Science and Technology, encouraged fellow graduates to embrace courage and purpose as they enter the workforce. “There is no success without struggle,” he said. “It is far better to try and fail than to fail to try. Our talents are not meant for display — they are meant for service, impact and legacy.”
He further appealed for stronger investment in laboratories, research facilities and digital infrastructure, warning that the quality of training received today will determine Liberia’s future development tomorrow.
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