By H. Matthew Turry
MONROVIA — The University of Liberia (UL) has officially launched a sweeping $6.35 million infrastructure overhaul across its campuses. However, university leadership has yet to set a definitive reopening date for students following months of campus closures.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at UL’s Capitol Hill campus, University President Dr. Layli Maparyan described the initiative as a “generational investment in Liberia’s national flagship university” and a pivotal step toward elevating the institution’s regional standing.
The initiative—dubbed the Renovation, Modernization, and Beautification (RMB) program—is championed by Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., who serves as UL’s Visitor and is an alumnus of the institution. Aligned with the national ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the RMB program aims to position UL among the top 300 universities in Africa through comprehensive academic and structural reforms.
A Three-Pronged Strategy
According to Dr. Maparyan, the RMB strategy balances historical preservation with modern infrastructure needs. Under the renovation component, the university is refurbishing structurally sound historical buildings while completing long-abandoned “half-built” structures, primarily at the Fendall campus, to rapidly expand operational space.
The modernization pillar focuses on upgrading facilities to contemporary standards, including advanced electrical systems for digital learning, state-of-the-art science laboratories, universal accessibility features, and renewable energy integration. Meanwhile, beautification efforts are targeting the removal of mold and debris, repairing roofs and climate control systems, and executing major landscaping to foster an environment conducive to learning and administrative excellence.
The architectural vision was designed by Liberian architect Garmondyu Zogar of Forma Nova, building upon technical assessments and structural drawings maintained by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW). Among the immediate capital projects is a high-security entrance gate and perimeter fence at Capitol Hill, designed to symbolize the university’s renewal.
Funding and Project Timeline
The National Legislature and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) have allocated $6.35 million under the FY2026 Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) to kickstart the first phase. Priority construction sites on the Capitol Hill campus include the Graduate School, the College of Business and Public Administration, and the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law alongside its annex.
Work has also begun at the Congo Town campus on the Academic Building at the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine. Additionally, funding will cover the Preclinical Campus at Fendall and the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College in Grand Cape Mount County.
Contractors, including the Delta Architectural and Construction Company, have already been mobilized, and all primary projects under this phase are scheduled for completion by March 31, 2027. Project oversight is being handled jointly by the MPW and the UL Project Management Team, which includes male and female student engineering interns as part of a national capacity-building initiative. Concurrently, internal technical teams led by Vice President for Administration Sehmah R. Jallah and Plant Operations Director Jeff Walker are executing “quick-impact” repairs targeting leaking roofs, sanitation facilities, and lighting across all four campuses.
Negotiations and the Shift to Online Learning
Addressing the ongoing delay in resuming regular operations, Dr. Maparyan acknowledged that negotiations between the administration, the Board of Trustees, and ULFASA (the merged UL Faculty and Staff Associations) have been “painfully slow.” Discussions have centered on resolving long-standing staff welfare issues, including social security (NASSCORP) contributions, retirement benefits, pay disparities, and salary arrears. This week, ULFASA submitted a draft quadripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving the university administration, faculty, staff, and the Ministry of Finance to establish a new collective bargaining agreement.
To bridge the gap until physical facilities fully reopen, the UL Cabinet has authorized the reintroduction of online learning paired with limited, offsite in-person instruction. In preparation for the transition, Provost Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor will lead a two-week online instructional workshop for faculty. Furthermore, Chief Information Officer Dr. Darren Wilkins is negotiating subsidized data packages for students while expanding on-campus computer access for those without personal devices, and Dean of Students Saydah Williamson Taylor is preparing a newly structured student orientation schedule.
Dr. Maparyan noted that while student frustration over delayed graduation dates is understandable, the active student advocacy during this period has been encouraging. “To me, as a university president, this is heartening,” Maparyan stated. “It means that, ultimately, we will all get there together.”
Expanding Strategic Partnerships
In addition to the infrastructure roadmap, UL finalized two strategic partnerships this week. The first, signed Tuesday with the Liberia National Tourism Authority (LNTA), establishes collaboration on tourism research, curriculum development, ecotourism site creation across UL properties, and workforce development. The second, signed Wednesday with the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), commits the authority to construct and equip a modernized Earth Sciences Laboratory within the College of Engineering.
Dr. Maparyan emphasized that while an exact date for full on-campus reopening remains subject to ongoing labor discussions and critical repair completion, administrative readiness preparations ensure that “the lead time will be short once we do resume.”