Published: January 8, 2025
MONROVIA – Dr. Al Hassan Conteh, the Acting President of the University of Liberia (UL), has called for a $42 million injection to rejuvenate the country’s leading state-run institution. Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism’s (MICAT) regular press briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Conteh stressed the significance of the proposed budget in addressing UL’s infrastructure deficits, clearing arrears, and enhancing its academic reputation.
“This amount will enable the University of Liberia to operate as a top-notch institution of higher learning,” Dr. Conteh stated emphatically.
Fiscal Challenges and Key Priorities
During the fiscal year 2025 budget hearings before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Dr. Conteh laid bare UL’s financial constraints. He revealed that the university could generate $3.5 million internally but faces a $4.8 million gap. Highlighting immediate priorities, Dr. Conteh disclosed that $3.9 million would go towards campus renovations, while $1 million would settle unpaid arrears for adjunct faculty.
“The funds will renovate classrooms, offices, and bathrooms, procure consumables for science and medical labs, and pay salaries for staff and faculty, including those on study leave,” he explained.
Additionally, UL is set to launch academic programs in biomedical sciences and an education doctoral degree to diversify its curriculum. To address logistical challenges, $79,000 has been earmarked for purchasing two 17-seater buses for the Grand Cape Mount County campus, aiming to ease student transportation woes.
Dr. Conteh linked these investments to President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, emphasizing UL’s pivotal role in tackling Liberia’s higher education challenges.
Leadership Transition at UL
As Dr. Conteh prepares to hand over leadership, he expressed confidence in his successor, Dr. Layli Maparyan, recently appointed as UL’s 16th president. President Boakai’s nomination of Dr. Maparyan followed an international search that attracted 20 applicants, with the top three forwarded for consideration.
Dr. Maparyan, a distinguished academic and administrator, previously served as Executive Director of the Wellesley Centers for Women and as a Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Temple University and has prior experience as a Fulbright Specialist at UL.
Despite her robust qualifications and ties to Liberia, her appointment has sparked mixed reactions. Critics have raised concerns over her non-Liberian nationality, while supporters praise her extensive experience and contributions to the academic sector.
Rallying Public Support
Dr. Conteh has urged the public to support Dr. Maparyan’s leadership, emphasizing that her performance should be the ultimate measure of her capabilities. “Instead of hastily judging her abilities, let us give her the chance to serve,” he appealed.
Dr. Maparyan’s investiture is scheduled for Friday, January 10, 2025, at UL’s Fendell campus. The ceremony will include the conferral of an honorary degree on President Boakai.
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