Margibi University in Harbel on Saturday, June 27, 2026, conferred degrees on 85 graduates drawn from six colleges during its 4th Commencement Convocation held at the Royal Ambassador Hotel in Unification Town.
The ceremony brought together former and current county officials, government representatives, development partners, civil society groups, and well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the academic milestone and reflect on the role of higher education in national development.
The keynote commencement address was delivered through a special statement read by Ibrahim Nyei, Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, on behalf of Liberia’s Foreign Minister and Dean of the Cabinet, Madam Sara Beysolow Nyanti, who was unable to attend due to international travel.
In her statement, Minister Nyanti commended the graduates for their dedication and perseverance throughout their academic journey, noting that their achievement reflects years of discipline, hard work, and commitment.
“You stand today at the threshold of a new chapter. You are not merely receiving certificates and degrees, but you are being called to carry forward the value of learning, character, responsibility and service into a world that is full of promise but marked by profound challenges particularly this 21st century,” the statement read.
She cautioned graduates to prepare for a rapidly changing global environment shaped by climate change, technological disruption, natural disasters, and political and economic instability, stressing that the responsibility of solving such challenges rests on their generation.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that education must go beyond academic achievement and serve as a tool for problem-solving and national development.
“Education must mean readiness to solve problems, to build bridges, and to use knowledge in the interest of society,” she stated, adding that “your graduation today matters not only to you and your families, but also to Liberia and global humanity.”
She further urged graduates to embody integrity, compassion, and professionalism in their careers, calling for a new generation of Liberians committed to public service and ethical leadership.
“Liberia needs not only skilled but principled graduates, not only ambitious but compassionate professionals, not only educated people but those committed to the public good,” she said.
Minister Nyanti also called for reforms in Liberia’s higher education system, urging universities to modernize curricula to reflect 21st-century realities and equip students with practical problem-solving skills rather than theory alone.
“This is the task for the university, and that task is more compelling for this 21st Century because of the complex nature of the problems of this century, and perhaps even the centuries ahead,” she noted.
She encouraged universities across Liberia to continuously evolve and expand academic programs in response to emerging national and global challenges, while urging graduates of Margibi University to actively contribute to nation-building.
“We need you in our classrooms and hospitals, in our farms and laboratories, in business and technology, in public administration and diplomacy, as well as in civil society and community leadership. You are needed where the work of nation building shall be done,” she added.
For his part, Margibi University President Dr. Joseph Isaac highlighted significant progress made under his leadership since 2024, particularly in student enrollment, faculty expansion, and institutional growth.
He disclosed that the student population has increased from just over 300 in 2024 to more than 800 currently, with projections reaching 1,000 students by 2027. He also noted that the number of graduates rose from 68 in 2025 to 85 in 2026, while faculty strength expanded from 36 in 2024 to 53 in 2025 and 91 in 2026.
Despite these achievements, Dr. Isaac stressed that inadequate funding remains the university’s biggest challenge, calling for urgent government intervention to strengthen institutional capacity.
“I must express this to the Board of Trustees of Margibi University and the Government of Liberia that this university needs funding. We are grossly underfunded, and we must be funded at the level of a university. Currently, we are funded at the level of a community college,” he stated.
The event concluded with renewed calls for investment in higher education as a key driver of Liberia’s development agenda, with stakeholders emphasizing the need to align academic training with national economic and social priorities.
