MONROVIA: The Acting President of the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, says Mr. Owelle Rochas Okorocha, former Senator and Governor of Imo State in Nigeria, has been invited to serve as the 104th Commencement Speaker of the University of Liberia.
He described Governor Okorocha as a good friend of Liberia whose Rochas Foundation sponsors the primary and secondary education of orphans and indigent children from all African states, including Liberia.
Making the disclosure yesterday on the Capitol Hill campus of the University of Liberia, Dr. Conteh disclosed that ten Liberian students recently graduated from the Rochas Foundation College of Africa and are now undergoing internships with various organizations in Abuja, Nigeria.
He added that, one of graduates has been admitted to the United States International University in Kenya.
According to him, Planning for the 104th Commencement Convocation is in high gear and will take place at the Fendall Campus of the University between September 9 and 21, 2024.
He noted that, the Joint Convocation is scheduled for September 20. Consistent with the tradition of the University, the Board of Trustees will invite the Visitor to preside over the Commencement and receive a distinguished Honorary Degree.
He also said collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Ministry of State and the Ministry of Public Works to Undertake a Comprehensive Assessment of the Capitol Hill and Fendall Campuses
“We have been working with the two Ministries to ensure that the University’s remaining budget from a total of $37 Million for FY is implemented in time to meet expenditures for the rest of the year. Salaries for faculty and staff are up to date.
The salaries for Adjunct faculty have also been paid. We are currently working with the representatives of the University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA) Liaison Teams to the Interim Management Team of the University to regularize the Adjunct (formerly part-time) Faculty payroll,” he noted.
He also said the UL administration is working with ULFASA to address the many issues bedeviling the adjunct faculty salary, including, henceforth agreeing on the rules and regulations for instructional analysis and contracts for only current adjunct faculty.
“We have also been working with ULFASA to address their concerns about salary disparities,” he said.
According to him, the Ministry of Public Works is also helping them to undertake a comprehensive assessment of four campuses of the University to ensure that the essential facilities are in place before the commencement of the next academic year.
He said they have also been simultaneously touring campus facilities to get first-hand information on the state of the physical plant.
Committing on Audit at the University of Liberia, Dr. Conteh said they have had an initial meeting with Auditor General of the Republic of Liberia, Mr. P. Garswa Jackson, and his team to discuss the auditing of the University.
“There will be a comprehensive audit of the University based on its financial statement and the audit will begin early September and end by September ending,” he noted.
He further said they are currently assessing the digital resources, internet connectivity, and technology-enabled learning tools at the University and they are currently in negotiation with private Liberian firms to provide internet at all the campuses of the University before the resumption of classes.
The Acting UL President indicated that they have rekindled the UL’s partnerships with several universities in Africa, India, Nigeria, and the United States to boost capacity-building and potential training programs for the faculty, including the launching of an Online Master’s program (OMS) in computer science and engineering in partnership with Georgia Tech University.
He stressed that, this last collaboration was the result of President’s Boakai’s recent visit to the United States during which he had a meeting with the leaders of the Consortium of United States Universities to mobilize resources for higher education in Liberia.
“We are partnering with Nigerian Technical Assistance Corps (TAC) to recruit about thirty five professors for various programs in the graduate schools to begin in September 2024” he said.
Dr. Conteh emphasized that, they have collaborated with UNDP, iCampus, and Orange to launch the University Innovation Pod (UniPod) program, which is its fully wired operation at the Lakeview campus to strengthen students’ entrepreneurial skills.
He however said VP Koung launched the program recently on behalf of the Visitor of the University, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
“UL will launch doctoral programs in biomedical sciences and education for the first time shortly.
He stated that, UL will soon seek accreditation for these programs with the Association of African Universities and other science and education-based institutions in the United States” he said.
He also said they have initiated the procurement process to procure a bus for Fendall. We have been working with students to address their concerns and are hoping that the aforementioned work on the physical plant will address their concerns to provide an amicable learning environment.
He pointed out that, they have spent a considerable degree of time with student groups, especially regarding violence on the main campus of the University that has led to injuries and the disruption of classes.
“We are working to take corrective measures, including implementing measures provided in the Student Handbook and organizing a counselling retreat this weekend for the students at the Fendall Campus of the University” he noted.
Commenting on the Search for a New President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Conteh said the Search Committee, chaired by Sister Mary Laurene Browne, commenced its work following the closure of the application deadline on July 31, 2024.
He said the Committee will complete work shortly and forward names of short-listed candidates to the Board of Trustees for onward transmission to the Visitor of the University of Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
