Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai announced that more than US$6 million has been set aside in the FY2026 national budget for infrastructure improvements at the state-run University of Liberia. He pledged an initial US$50,000 from his voluntary salary reduction to launch a proposed Research Laboratory at the university.
In his capacity as a Visitor to the University, the President made remarks on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the University’s 105th Commencement Convocation (Graduate and Professional Schools) at the Fendall Campus. He framed higher education reform as essential to Liberia’s economic transformation and urged students to pursue “governance over greed and vision over vintage.”
“We are not content to maintain the status quo. To compete in a globalized economy, UL must provide a world-class education that adapts to an evolving job market,” Boakai told graduates, faculty, lawmakers and dignitaries.
In an effort to solve persistent infrastructure issues, the President stateed that the government’s 2026 fiscal budget includes more than US$6 million set aside for updating and renovating facilities throughout the University’s campuses.
He emphasized that institutional integrity and discipline must be equal to physical transformation, saying, “Our students deserve an environment that reflects the dignity of their aspirations.”
Additionally, he warned that brilliance is “never accidental” but rather the outcome of standards sustained without compromise and urged the University’s administration to strengthen supervision across academic, financial, and administrative systems.
President Boakai announced a US$50,000 personal commitment toward a proposed contemporary Research Laboratory, a proposal supported by the Graduating Class leadership, in one of the ceremony’s most remarkable moments. He indicated that the money came from savings he had made by voluntarily lowering his salary.
“We will continue to spread my salary reduction savings to support meaningful and impactful projects in our country,” the President declared.
The President added that the planned laboratory, which aims to promote creativity and hands-on learning, is consistent with the Administration’s larger focus on youth-driven development and technological progress.
Speaking about campus stability and alumni engagement, Boakai also advocated for a reinvigorated Alumni Association, urging graduates, including himself as one to get back in touch and reaffirm their commitment to enhancing UL’s financial and reputational standing.
“A vibrant Alumni Association will help improve the University’s public standing and provide essential support to maintain a solid and sustainable financial foundation,” he noted.
The President emphasized that involvement must be nonviolent and productive, even as he acknowledged UL’s long history as a birthplace of student action. “Let this campus remain a marketplace of ideas and a citadel of innovation, not a battleground of conflict,” he urged.
The Liberian leader urged the Class of 2025 to consider themselves as designers of the country’s revitalization at a time when Liberia is “ready for your expertise.” “Go forth and be the light in the darkness, also, invoking the University’s Latin motto, Lux in Tenebris. Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia,” he narrated.
The dual financial commitments, one personal and one national, underscore the Boakai Administration’s push to reposition UL as a competitive, world-class institution capable of producing the “specialized workforce Liberia needs.”
In light of growing public expectations for reform and outcomes, the 105th Convocation represents another significant turning point in the institution’s century-long existence as the government and university administration work to match higher education with Liberia’s development goal.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
