J. Blio Tingban has been officially inducted as the Interim President of the University of Liberia (UL) Student Government, setting a bold vision for accountable, inclusive, and transformative student leadership.
Addressing a packed auditorium that included university executives, student political leaders, civil society groups, and religious representatives, Tingban declared the start of a new era, one marked by unity, transparency, and strategic student advocacy.
“Today, as I stand before you, my heart swells with gratitude and my spirit are ignited by the collective hope of this great institution. This victory is not mine alone, it belongs to every student who dared to dream,” she declared.
Tingban paid tribute to the Student Unification Party (SUP), which backed her candidacy, and her family, whom she credited as the foundation of her resolve and ambition. Calling for student unity across ideological and political divides, she urged collaboration to advance the shared mission of academic excellence and progress.
“We are a student body of varying ideologies, tribes, and backgrounds, yet we share one common purpose: the pursuit of knowledge and progress,” she said.
In a clear break from the past, Tingban laid out a reform agenda focused on transparency and responsiveness. She announced plans for monthly town hall meetings, public financial reporting, and an open-door policy, promising a student government that is accessible and accountable.
“No more backroom dealings. No more empty promises,” she said, drawing loud applause.
Her policy priorities include advocating for improved campus sanitation, affordable tuition, enhanced academic resources, and expanded extracurricular opportunities for students.
“A student government that does not fight for its people is no government at all,” Tingban affirmed.
While signaling her readiness to challenge inefficiencies, she emphasized diplomacy over confrontation in dealing with the university administration.
“To the administration: We seek partnership, not confrontation. But let it be known we will no longer accept neglect as tradition,” she warned.
Tingban praised UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan for her inclusive leadership, describing her as “a woman with listening ears” and expressing hope for renewed cooperation between students and the university administration.
She also used the occasion to appeal to the national government for increased support to the University of Liberia, which she described as the cornerstone of educational transformation in the country.
Noting that if Liberian students want real reform in the country’s education sector, it must begin at the University of Liberia,
“Let this be remembered as the year we turned the page from protest to progress, from division to unity, from surviving to thriving. The dream is alive. The time is now. Let’s get to work. Lux in Tenebris!”
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. James S. Paye, Controller General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, encouraged the new student leadership to embrace strategic thinking, courage, and unity in their approach to governance.
Using an allegorical tale of tortoises winning a race through teamwork and wisdom, Paye emphasized that success is not always about speed or strength but about strategy, unity, and consistency.
“Push yourself beyond the comfort of complaint into the discomfort of finding solutions,” he urged. “Leadership is about standing tall in discomfort and believing in unseen possibilities.”
Paye also highlighted the importance of moving past traditional forms of protest and embracing negotiation, innovation, and engagement as powerful tools for change.
“Greatness begins with the decision to move beyond the familiar. Excellence is not an accomplishment it is a spirit,” he added, challenging the new leadership to redefine what it means to lead.
Student leaders representing various political and social groups on campus pledged unwavering support to the Tingban-led interim administration, urging her to lead not with self-interest but with passion, courage, and commitment to student welfare.
As the new student government begins its journey, expectations are high, and the campus community is watching closely as Tingban seeks to deliver on her promise of unity, transparency, and transformational change.
