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FENDALL, February 26, 2026 — The University of Liberia (UL) held its 105th Commencement Convocation on February 25, graduating 1,255 candidates from various undergraduate colleges. The ceremony in Fendall, Montserrado County, was attended by government officials, families, faculty, students, and staff.
This year’s commencement marks the first under UL’s 16th President, Prof. Dr. Layli Maparyan, coinciding with the celebration of the university’s year-long 75th anniversary since becoming a chartered institution in 1951, having been established as Liberia College in 1862.
Wednesday’s ceremony was a combination of candidates from the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, William V.S. Tubman College of Education, and the College of Gender Studies and Interdisciplinary Research.
It also included those from the Thomas J.R. Faulkner College of Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change; the William R. Tolbert, Jr. College of Agriculture and Forestry; the College of Engineering; the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College; and the A. Romeo Horton College of Business and Public Administration.
The event also featured candidates from the University of Liberia-Booker T. Washington Institute Technical Training Program. The Commencement Convocation for the Graduate and Professional Schools will be held on Friday, February 27, at the same venue.
In her address to the graduates, President Layli Maparyan celebrated their perseverance, saying they were sitting in the seat of triumph, having made it to graduation day through the unique grace and mercy of the Almighty God.
She emphasized that history will remember graduates for their excellence, not mediocrity. She encouraged them to cultivate an ethical compass and to reflect daily on right and wrong, urging them to do what they know is right. President Maparyan challenged graduates to shine brightly and fully represent their alma mater to the best of their ability.
“We who have formed you are proud to send you out as degree holders in your respective fields. With the recognition and respect attached to your UL degree, you now represent Lux in Tenebris in the wider Liberian society and the world.”
She hopes the graduates will always be a shining light and that their UL education has made them as unbreakable as diamonds.
Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabah Mabande Varpilah delivered the convocation address, emphasizing the graduates’ growth and readiness for future responsibilities.
Sen. Varpilah noted that the graduates are equipped with knowledge, confidence, and purpose, adding that they are not the same individuals they were when they began their academic journey several years ago. She encouraged them to see their graduation as a commitment to uplifting their communities and improving the nation.
“You have grown intellectually, matured personally, and developed the courage to face the unknown. You have been tested, refined, and prepared for greater responsibilities. This day ignites hope, not just for you, but also for your communities, and for our nation like you,” said Senator Varpilah.
She stated that the power of communities to solve pressing challenges and build a stronger nation sits within the graduates, suggesting that their graduation is more than a personal achievement, but a promise that the future can be better than the past.
Senator Varpilah encouraged the graduates to challenge themselves to put their degrees into practice with profound integrity at heart. She also urged them to be willing to acknowledge that defeat is not a failure, especially when their degree is not giving them the immediate opportunity.
According to her, there will be seasons of waiting that may seem like rejection. She indicated further that there may be seasons when their qualifications seem unnoticed, their efforts unappreciated, their confidence shaken, and their plans are disrupted.
Notwithstanding, Senator Varpilah encouraged the graduates to remain self-confident and resilient, and wake up every morning determined to be the better version of themselves.
Jamal Joseph Ghoson, valedictorian of the undergraduate colleges, said if Liberian graduates must compete globally, Liberian institutions must treat them globally.
“Therefore, with humility and respect, I call upon the leadership of the University of Liberia and the Government of the Republic of Liberia to continue to invest in our university, because when we invest in education, we are not investing money. We are building a nation,” Ghoson argued.
According to him, the doctors, engineers, researchers, educators, and policymakers that Liberia needs tomorrow are sitting in the classrooms today. But he noted that the most intriguing thing about it is that the quality of the training will determine the guarantee of Liberia’s future.
“So it is a call upon our government and our leadership to pay more attention to investing in modern science laboratories, reliable digital infrastructure, strong student health services, and research systems that empower innovation,” Ghoson noted.
