Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberian Senate on Thursday February 27, 2025 passed an “Act” repealing the 2012 Act creating the Bomi Community College to establish in lieu the Western region University. Following a report from the joint committee consisting of Education, Public Administration, Judiciary Claims and Petition, Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget that recommended the bill’s adoption, the Senate made the decision during its 12th day of session.
According to the Committees’ expertise, if this measure is passed, it will improve access to higher education, aid in regional development, and support Liberia’s objectives as outlined in the government’s ARREST agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
Theย Senate’sย Actย willย furtherย convertย theย currentย Bomiย Communityย Collegeย intoย theย Westernย Regionย University,ย whichย willย beย situatedย inย Tubmanburg,ย Bomiย County,ย andย createย aย universityย thatย canย awardย bachelor’s,ย master’s,ย andย doctoralย degreesย inย aย varietyย ofย academicย andย professionalย fields.ย Itย willย alsoย promoteย economicย growthย inย theย Westernย regionย byย creatingย aย skilledย workforceย toย meetย theย demandsย ofย mining,ย agriculture,ย health,ย andย otherย importantย industries.ย
Additionally,ย theย universityย willย increaseย educationalย accessย forย womenย andย youth,ย asย wellย asย otherย underprivilegedย groupsย inย Westernย Liberia. After being renamed the Western Region University by the Liberian Senate, the Bomi Community College will now be a fully recognized university with the ability to provide undergraduate and graduate courses in a wide range of subjects.
Since its founding in 2005 and official enactment in 2012, the Bomi Community College (BCC) has maintained its position as the oldest government-owned community college, successfully graduating students with Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees in a number of important subjects in as little as two years.
The Western Region is composed of the counties of Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, and Bomi. These counties, which are among Liberia’s mineral-rich counties, are home to a rising population of about 408,567 people, the bulk of whom are young.
Article 29 of Liberia’s 1986 constitution states that “The legislature has the power to pass on all legislation,” which is consistent with the Senate’s decision to repeal and approve this act.
