The low number of graduates emerging from the Engineering and Geo-Sciences programs at Nimba University has raised concerns among citizens and county officials, who say the situation could affect the county’s ability to produce local professionals for the mining and technical sectors.
During the university’s recent commencement convocation, the College of Engineering and Geo-Sciences graduated fewer than nine students. The graduates included two students from the Department of Geology, one from the Department of Mining, and four from the Department of Information Technology. Meanwhile, the College of Natural Resources produced two graduates from the Department of Chemistry.
The limited number of graduates has sparked concerns among residents, who argue that the university is not doing enough to encourage students to enroll in science and engineering programs that are critical to Liberia’s job market, particularly in the mining industry.
Speaking as the keynote orator at the commencement ceremony, Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono questioned why strategic academic programs linked to the county’s economic future continue to produce such few graduates.
Superintendent Gono said the situation is concerning given Nimba’s status as one of Liberia’s major mining hubs, particularly with the presence of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), which operates one of the country’s largest iron ore projects.
He urged the university to intensify efforts to promote engineering and technical programs, arguing that these fields are essential for Nimba’s development and could help reduce the reliance on foreign specialists in the mining sector.
The Daily Observer was unable to determine the specific reasons behind the low enrollment and graduation numbers, as senior officials of the university were unavailable for comment.
However, some residents believe the decline is linked to a lack of student interest due to the challenging nature of engineering courses, while others blame the institution for failing to adequately promote the programs and motivate students to pursue them.
Before becoming a university, the institution—then known as Nimba County Community College—organized career fairs where professionals from various fields engaged students and encouraged them to pursue technical and specialized disciplines.
Residents say those initiatives helped motivate more students to enroll in challenging programs, but they believe such activities have become less frequent since the institution gained university status.
“We will continue to encourage our children to pursue engineering courses because it appears that Nimba University does not have enough manpower in those areas,” Ma. Rachel Nuahlay said.
Earlier this year, Nimba University and the University of Man in neighboring Côte d’Ivoire signed a cooperation agreement, although details of the partnership have not yet been made public.
Some citizens say the shortage of locally trained engineers has contributed to Liberians occupying mainly lower-skilled positions within the mining sector, while foreign professionals from countries including Brazil and South Africa continue to dominate key technical and engineering roles.
They are calling for greater investment in engineering education to ensure that Liberians are better prepared to compete for high-level employment opportunities.
While ArcelorMittal Liberia provides vocational training opportunities for selected Liberians in areas such as mechanics and electrical work, residents argue that more support is needed for advanced engineering education.
“We need our own engineers in all the key sectors of employment, not just skilled or unskilled laborers,” Freeman Zayee said during the program.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that ArcelorMittal Liberia provided Nimba University with US$50,000, although it remains unclear how the funds were utilized.
Citizens say increased investment in engineering education, stronger industry partnerships, and improved career guidance programs are necessary if Nimba is to develop the human resources required to manage its growing mining and industrial sectors.
