{"id":24325,"date":"2025-11-23T18:43:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T18:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/?p=24325"},"modified":"2025-11-24T10:42:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T10:42:05","slug":"university-of-liberia-launches-landmark-solarized-infrastructure-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/university-of-liberia-launches-landmark-solarized-infrastructure-project\/","title":{"rendered":"University of Liberia Launches Landmark Solarized Infrastructure Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fendall Campus, Nov. 22, 2025| The University of Liberia is embarking on a US $680,000, solar-powered infrastructure project that will provide vital utilities round-the-clock and transform 1.5 acres on Fendall campus into a model of sustainability and student innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solar Oasis Student Utility Park, a state-of-the-art\u00a0project, will feature a bathroom complex with 20\u00a0new\u00a0hygienic\u00a0stalls (10 toilets and 10 urinals\u00a0with disability-accessible stalls), a\u00a0mini Student\u00a0Center and an outdoor water fountain. The development will directly address longstanding bathroom and sanitation needs on the campus; provide free filtered drinking water; and create a crucial student hub, offering\u00a0Wi-Fi, charging stations, printing services and space for study and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the entire project marks UL\u2019s first foray into solarization. The utilization of renewal energy at the self-contained site will ensure 24\/7 electricity, running water, sanitation and Wi-Fi. The initiative could serve as a blueprint to eventually solarize all four campuses of UL\u2014 a move that could transform the university, relieving it of the chronic infrastructure issues that have stymied its progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Solar Oasis Student Utility Park is going to be a game-changer for UL,\u201d said UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The President said the lack of stable electricity, water and sanitation have undermined UL\u2019s role as the nation\u2019s flagship university, leaving it unable to fulfill its core mission of educating Liberian students and aiding national development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis requires educational facilities that allow our students to access the most up-to-date educational resources, most of which are digital, and to sit in a conducive learning environment,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can\u2019t do this without consistent 24\/7 current, 24\/7 water, 24\/7 sanitation facilities, and 24\/7 internet access. We want to provide a world class education, but we can\u2019t do that without this sound basic infrastructural foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added: \u201cSolarization is a commitment to making this future possible and leaping forward technologically while, at the same time, capitalizing one of Liberia\u2019s most plentiful natural resources, namely, sunshine. For these reasons, I am proposing to solarize all 4 of UL\u2019s campuses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pilot Project for Campus-wide Solarization at UL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Dr. Maparyan said the Solar Oasis project is a pilot initiative \u2013 the first step in alleviating the electricity and sanitation issuesvia solar before expanding it to other campuses, paving the way to embark on efforts that\u2019ll make UL a world-class university. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to bringing steady power and clean water to the area, using high-output solar technology, the project features modern, cutting-edge construction, technological advancement, environmentally soundness, and a relaxing, peaceful environment conducive to studying as well as health and wellness, the President said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudents who feel good will be energized to learn, dream, innovate, and make the most of their education. This new structure will turn the tide on the student experience,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Solar Oasis is going to set a new standard for infrastructure improvements at UL. It will position us to dream big but dream efficiently and sustainably. It will widen the imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liberian-led Engineering, High-grade Solar Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding further significance to the project is the Liberian-owned company that\u2019s designing, installing and building the project:Xity Engineering Solutions, a Johnsonville-based company, providing solutions in commercial and industrial solar power. The company\u2019s CEO is Dr. Sannah Ziama, a former UL student who recently returned to Liberia after decades of advanced schooling and professional work as a physicist in academia and tech sector in the United States. Most recently he worked as a senior AI scientist at Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ziama said UL\u2019s bathroom shortage\u00a0and\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0issues stretched generations, and a lasting solution to the problem is overdue.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe restroom challenge has existed here for quite a long time now,\u201d Dr. Ziama recalled. \u201cIt was a problem when I was a student at the Capitol Hill campus over two decades ago and potentially was a problem before I enrolled \u2026 I can easily empathize with students who face it today, and this compels me to make personal sacrifices for a higher degree of quality of the delivered solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ziama conceived and designed the Solar Oasis project. And its solar micro grid is advanced, contains top-of-the-line components and boasts a longer life span and capabilities beyond the systems typically installed in Liberia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe’re using renewable energy as the force that brings life to the Solar Oasis,\u201d Dr. Ziama said. \u201cThis is a project where solar is first-class citizen. That means we designed everything around solar. Not only other universities, but schools, hospitals, businesses and particularly public entities should think about integrating solar into existing power supply or when building newly, design with solar as the main source of power. It’s more economical in the long run and provides reliability and peace of mind that are unmatched by customary options.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system is industrial grade solar, instead of the commonly used residential, and its solar panels can potentially generate excessive electricity enough to sell to LEC; and its long-lasting battery can run the site for two days during inclement weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ziama said the project is also unique because of its focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut this is a good thing because it allows the UL to, for the first time in Liberia’s higher education space, demonstrate that students’ campus-life can be a whole lot improved by utilizing solar,\u201d he said. \u201cAdditionally, it also serves to be a pilot for the bigger aspirations of President Maparyan to power the entire existing Fendall campus and future expansion plans with solar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transforming Student Life, Restoring Dignity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solar Oasis will be situated between the basketball court and the engineering building on Fendall Campus. The site \u2013 1.5 acres \u2013 has already been cleared for the construction of the bathroom complex \u2013 consisting of two buildings, the Student Center, the Water Fountain square and the Utility Building. The work is underway and is slated to be completed in eight months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UL student Vashe T. Weah expressed excitement about the project, saying it\u2019s a \u201creal investment in students\u2019 dignity and comfort.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving 20 modern bathrooms, including disability-accessible ones, set in a calm, park-like space shows that the University is thinking about the everyday needs of all students,\u201d said Weah, the reigning Miss Inter-University queen. \u201cAnd the mini StudentCenter with 24-hour charging, laptop docking, Wi-Fi and clean drinking water is a huge boost. These are the small supports that actually make student life easier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weah works to make feminine products available in the University\u2019s female restrooms through her SheShelter Initiative. She said the Solar Oasis project aligns with her mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, seeing the University of Liberia, under the leadership of Dr. Layli Maparyan, prioritizing hygiene, safety and student wellbeing gives me hope that we\u2019re moving in the right direction,\u201d Weah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proof of Concept to Attract Green and Development Finance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project costs US $680,000. Dr. Maparyan said project is being funded by UL \u201cwith portion of the set-asides for bathroom renovation and some anticipated climate-specific funding in UL\u2019s FY 2026 budget.\u201d She added a small amount of UL\u2019sannual endowment distribution will be used to cover the costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Solar Oasis Student Utility Park is a small, site-specific pilot serving one corner of campus, it will serve as proofof concept to garner funding for future solarization at UL. The President said there is interest among energy and environmental funders and others. Bank financing might be an option too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cGrantors and investors in large scale projects want to see \u2018proof of concept\u2019 before providing funds,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Solar Oasis Student Utility Park will serve as both a solarization pilot project and a \u2018proof of concept\u2019 for donors and other funders. With this build completed and the project up and running, UL will be better positioned to attract funds from global green energy funders and development finance organizations for the campus-wide solarization project.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fendall Campus, Nov. 22, 2025| The University of Liberia is embarking on a US $680,000, solar-powered infrastructure project that will provide vital utilities round-the-clock and transform 1.5 acres on Fendall campus into a model of sustainability and student innovation. The Solar Oasis Student Utility Park, a state-of-the-art\u00a0project, will feature […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"iawp_total_views":437,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,261],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-press-release"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/273afb33-bbcc-4a77-9974-e3f045dd1ba3.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sumo Charles D","author_link":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/author\/5c1969f41eff7aa5\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24325"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24351,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24325\/revisions\/24351"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}