MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has directed the Administration of the University of Liberia (UL) to speed up the renovation and modernization of the university’s campuses, expressing concern over what he described as slow progress despite significant government funding.
The directive followed a high-level meeting held at the Executive Mansion on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to assess the status of the university’s infrastructure rehabilitation program and determine how to fast-track the reopening of the institution.
The meeting brought together senior government officials, including the Ministers of State for Presidential Affairs, Finance and Development Planning, Public Works, Local Government, and Education, along with UL administrators, members of the Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders.
The government has appropriated approximately US$6.3 million for the renovation and modernization of facilities across the University of Liberia.
According to the government, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has processed the necessary funding, but President Boakai said he had not seen sufficient evidence of substantial physical work taking place on the campuses.
The meeting was therefore convened to determine the actual implementation status, identify the reasons for delays, and develop measures to accelerate the work.
The University Administration presented a phased renovation plan that includes the construction of a 25-classroom building at the Fendall Campus, modernization of the university’s largest academic building, and rehabilitation works at the Capitol Hill and Sinje campuses.
The university acknowledged that major construction activities have yet to begin, citing technical delays within the procurement process.
Participants agreed that while long-term modernization projects remain necessary, urgent repairs affecting students’ safety and learning conditions must be addressed before the university reopens.
Priority areas include roofing, sanitation, water supply, sewage systems, and structurally deficient facilities.
The Ministry of Public Works has been tasked with working with the University of Liberia to validate project designs, timelines, and technical priorities. The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning will also work to address procurement challenges that have delayed the start of construction.
The University’s Board of Trustees is expected to closely monitor implementation while improving coordination among the university’s faculty, administration, and staff.
The university administration and Board have also been directed to engage students and faculty and provide regular updates on renovation activities and plans for reopening.
As part of the agreed action plan, a joint technical team will be established to prepare a costed and sequenced implementation program and resolve outstanding procurement issues.
A Coordination Committee will also be established and co-chaired by the Ministry of Public Works and the University of Liberia. The committee will include representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning, Education, and State for Presidential Affairs.
President Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving higher education under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, stressing that the government has already made the necessary financial commitment to the university’s rehabilitation.
He called on all institutions involved to work together, remove administrative bottlenecks, and ensure that visible progress is made without further delay.
The President emphasized that Liberia’s premier public university must provide students and faculty with a safe, modern, and conducive learning environment.
