Front row: Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry Hon. Stephen Yekeson (second from left), with Mr. Emmanuel Rugomboka, Counsellor in WIPO’s Division for Africa, and Hon. Garmai Koboi, Director General of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office.

The Government of Liberia has begun the validation of its draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) to guide short-, medium-, and long-term actions in the protection, administration and commercialization of intellectual property rights.

The ongoing validation exercise, which runs from October 15 to 16, comes as President Joseph Boakai’s administration has made intellectual property protection and development a key policy priority under Pillar One of the ARREST Agenda.

Opening the validation workshop, Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry Hon. Stephen Yekeson said the exercise represents a step toward a national framework that recognizes the economic value of knowledge and protects the legitimate interests of creators and innovators.

“In today’s increasingly knowledge-driven global economy, national competitiveness depends not only on the natural resources a country possesses or the goods it produces, but also on its ability to generate ideas, protect innovation, develop valuable brands, commercialize creative works, and transform knowledge into economic value,” Hon. Yekeson added.

Min. Yekeson further noted that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry sees the NIPPS as an important document that connects to Liberia’s wider trade, investment, and economic development priorities, as an effective intellectual property system is key to a more supportive business environment, encourages responsible investment, and reinforces Liberia’s broader efforts to improve trade competitiveness and private sector growth.

“Today’s validation workshop is particularly important because the success of a national policy depends not only on the quality of the document, but also on its relevance to national priorities, its responsiveness to practical challenges, and the commitment of the institutions and stakeholders responsible for its implementation,” the Minister also noted while stressing the importance of the validation exercise.

Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry Hon. Stephen Yekeson opens the validation workshop on Liberia’s draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy.

The ongoing workshop, which brings together stakeholders from government circles, the creative industries, the business community, higher education institutions and civil society, is convened by the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with technical assistance from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

It comes after a national review of the IP Audit findings last year, which identified gaps in institutional capacity, infrastructure, coordination, and access to intellectual property services as constraints that continue to limit the use of the intellectual property system.

The draft NIPPS responds to these findings by seeking to strengthen the country’s intellectual property system and increase its usage and responsiveness. The document, which was developed by experts in intellectual property, aligns with the Government’s national development priorities in the ARREST Agenda and brings coherence to the work of LIPO and other government institutions, while positioning Liberia to take full advantage of regional and global opportunities.

Speaking earlier, LIPO Director General Hon. Garmai Koboi said the draft was made possible through high-level engagement with WIPO in order to align the country’s IP regime with international intellectual property standards and frameworks administered by WIPO, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), and others.

Hon. Koboi noted that the workshop gives stakeholders an opportunity to confirm that the draft reflects their experiences, challenge impractical measures and examine institutional responsibilities.

“We extend our profound appreciation to the World Intellectual Property Organization for its invaluable technical and financial support. This partnership reflects WIPO’s long-term commitment to helping member states build intellectual property systems that serve their development aspirations, and Liberia is proud to count WIPO among its steadfast partners,” Hon. Koboi added.

“I also recognize both the national and international consultants, whose expertise guided the preparation of this draft; the members of the Technical Steering Committee, who gave their time and recommendations; and the many institutions, enterprises, creators, and individuals who participated in the National IP Audit and the stakeholder consultations,” noted the Director General.

Also speaking, WIPO Representative Emmanuel Rugomboka, a Counsellor in the organization’s Division for Africa, said the document could help connect intellectual property protection with economic diversification, stronger local enterprises and opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs.

He illustrated this potential with a hypothetical Liberian cocoa or coffee cooperative. “Imagine a Liberian agricultural cooperative producing high-quality cocoa or coffee. With the right policy framework, the cooperative could receive support to develop a distinctive brand, protect its trademark, meet quality standards, and explore geographical indication protection where appropriate,” Mr. Rugomboka said.

“By combining intellectual property protection with improved production, processing, packaging and market access, the cooperative could differentiate its products, negotiate better prices and reach higher-value domestic and international markets,” he added. “The resulting benefits could include increased incomes for farmers, new opportunities for young entrepreneurs, and jobs in processing, packaging, marketing and distribution.”

According to Mr. Rugomboka, WIPO stood ready to support implementation of NIPPS in line with Liberia’s priorities and available resources, including efforts to help businesses build competitive brands, researchers bring discoveries to market and creators benefit from their work.

By Joyclyn Wea, gender and health correspondent with New Narratives

Summary:

• The 5th Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference opened in Monrovia this week, bringing researchers and policymakers together to examine evidence from Liberia’s health system.
• Organizers said the conference is helping young scientists present and publish research. Officials promised to take its findings into health policy discussions.
• Experts said new research on Ebola preparedness and previous findings on Lassa fever show why local evidence matters, and the measure of success is what changes in communities afterward.

CONGO TOWN, Monrovia — Scientists, health workers and government officials gathered for the Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference,  a national gathering of Liberian researchers presenting evidence they hope will shape how the country prevents disease and cares for patients. This is the fifth annual conference.

The three-day meeting at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex brings together Liberian researchers, students and health policymakers to discuss infectious diseases, maternal health, health financing, climate-related health threats and other challenges. Organizers said nearly 100 research paper summaries were submitted for the conference, with roughly 90 accepted for oral or poster presentations.

“We want to find Liberian solutions for Liberian problems and perhaps for global problems as well,” said Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, acting director general of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, in her opening remarks.

The conference offers a snapshot of Liberia’s growing research community since the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic, the biggest outbreak anywhere of the deadly disease which left nearly 5,000 Liberians dead. Experts said it also poses a test: whether findings presented before government officials will become decisions that make health services safer and more effective for ordinary Liberians.

The Ebola epidemic exposed serious weaknesses in disease detection, laboratory testing and emergency response. Liberia established the National Public Health Institute in its wake in 2016. Two years later, the Institute and its partners launched the scientific conference, named for Dr. Emmet A. Dennis, a pioneering biomedical researcher and former University of Liberia president.

One goal was to help district and county surveillance officers turn information gathered in clinics and communities into research they could analyze, present, and publish. Another was to develop younger Liberian scientists and ensure that national health priorities were not set entirely by foreign partners.

At the opening, Camanor said the conference now connects students, universities, laboratories and public health agencies. She announced that organizers would issue a communiqué after the meeting and share it with the government, the Ministry of Health and partners.

Bode Ireti Shobayo, the Institute’s director of public health and biomedical research and chair of the conference planning committee, said selected presentations can be turned into policy briefs and scientific manuscripts. The Institute will also mentor researchers to prepare papers for international academic journals.

“We want to go beyond just presenting for presenting’s sake,” Shobayo said in an interview before the conference.

Uriah Harrington, speaking on behalf of President Joseph Boakai, said the conference is key to helping the country shift away from responding only after crises emerge.

“We must transition from reactive passive response to proactive science-driven governance,” he said. The administration pledged to support domestic research capacity, mentoring and evidence-based health policy, but the remarks did not specify new funding amounts or plans.

Partners said the success of the conferences to date could be seen in changes in Liberia’s scientific workforce. A representative of the African Field Epidemiology Network, a non-profit network that trains African health workers to be “disease detectives,”  said its field epidemiology training work in Liberia has expanded since it was established in 2015 from frontline to intermediate training, with some professionals pursuing advanced courses abroad. A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention representative said Liberian epidemiologists now lead outbreak investigations and produce their own research.

Dr. Stephen B. Kennedy, a University of Liberia researcher and Institute board chair, said Liberians have developed the skills to study infectious diseases and contribute to international vaccine research, even as shortages of money, laboratory infrastructure and supplies limit what they can do. “We have the expertise, we have the capacity.”

But the ability to present a paper is different from changing policy or action. Shobayo could not say how many recommendations from earlier editions had been adopted or provide a public record showing which decisions and services had changed.

He pointed to recent work on Lassa Fever as one example of the promise offered by Liberian researchers. A 2022 study co-authored by Shobayo found the disease appearing outside its traditional hotspots in Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa counties and contributed to the government’s decision to expand its activities to other counties.

But some experts have questioned whether the conference’s contributions to national policy and actions have been enough. Joseph Somwarbi, a pharmacologist and former chair of the House Committee on Health, said policymakers should make those links visible to the public.

“What are the indicators?” he asked, calling for evidence of the decisions taken and benefits to affected communities.

Alpha Tamba, with the World Health Organization, urged organizers to publish the findings and make them accessible, including to the communities they are meant to serve. He said that would give health workers, journalists and residents a way to follow what happens after the speeches and presentations.

This year’s presentations included The National Public Health Institute’s nationwide Ebola preparedness assessment done earlier this year. Officials previously reported a 69 percent overall readiness score and 47 percent for logistics. The Institute has not published the detailed scoring method or facility-by-facility findings that experts said were necessary to fully interpret them. When the results were released in September, health workers welcomed the assessment but said the government needed to follow up to close the gaps to make sure they feel safe.

For three days, the conference will put Liberian evidence before people with the power to act on it. Its larger measure will come later: which recommendations the government accepts, what resources follow, and whether patients and communities can see the difference.

This story was produced in collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. The funder had no say in the story’s content.

The democratic development organization is calling for an integrated national identification system to reduce duplicate registrations, improve public service delivery and strengthen payment verification, while demanding financial transparency and independent oversight.

MONROVIA, Liberia — Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has called on the National Legislature to ensure that the proposed US$52 million national identification agreement establishes an integrated, affordable and accountable system that improves public service delivery and provides measurable benefits to Liberian citizens.

In a statement issued October 15, 2026, the organization said the proposed investment presents an opportunity to reduce repeated identity enrollment across government institutions, strengthen the verification of public payments and improve access to essential services.

However, Naymote stressed that these benefits would depend on clear contractual obligations, appropriate legislation and independent oversight to ensure that the system serves the public interest and does not impose unnecessary financial burdens on taxpayers.

The organization urged lawmakers to subject the agreement to thorough scrutiny, emphasizing the need for transparency in financing, effective data protection and a practical framework for integrating the national identification system with existing public services.

African Experiences Offer Lessons

Naymote pointed to national identification systems in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana as examples Liberia could examine as it considers the proposed agreement.

In South Africa, national identity documents, including smart identity cards and valid temporary identity certificates, are accepted for voter registration. However, citizens must still register on the electoral roll, a distinction Naymote said Liberia could consider when determining the relationship between national identification and electoral processes.

Kenya provides another example of cooperation between identity and electoral institutions. Its electoral commission verifies national identity details through the National Registration Bureau and recognizes passports as statutory identification documents for voter registration.

Ghana, meanwhile, uses the Ghana Card personal identification number as the tax identification number for individual taxpayers. The country’s National Identification Authority also provides identity verification services to institutions, demonstrating how a common identification infrastructure can support multiple public and private services.

Naymote said these experiences offer practical lessons for Liberia but cautioned that the examples alone do not establish how much the country could save by adopting an integrated system.

Legislature Urged to Demand Integration and Affordability

The organization wants lawmakers to require a clear framework for connecting the national identification system to key government services, including payroll, pensions, taxation, social protection and banking.

Under the proposed arrangement, a common National Identification Number and secure verification mechanisms could help institutions confirm identities without repeatedly collecting the same biometric and personal information.

Naymote argued that reducing unnecessary duplication could improve administrative efficiency and help identify duplicate or improper payments. However, it said the anticipated savings must be calculated against the full costs of financing, maintenance, verification charges, cybersecurity and system integration.

The organization also called for a legal and technical pathway through which the national identification system could support voter registration and polling-day identification, potentially reducing the need for a separate voter card.

It emphasized, however, that the National Elections Commission (NEC) must retain authority over electoral eligibility, residence verification and management of the voters’ roll.

A national identity document, Naymote maintained, should not automatically confer voting rights, as possession of an identification credential is distinct from meeting the legal requirements for voter registration.

Calls for Financial Disclosure and Independent Assessment

Beyond technical integration, Naymote urged the Legislature to demand full disclosure of the agreement’s financial and contractual terms before completing its consideration.

The organization wants the government to publish details of financing costs, the duration of any concession, service fees, government guarantees, revenue commitments and termination obligations.

It also called for an independent value-for-money assessment to determine whether the proposed US$52 million investment is justified by the expected benefits and whether alternative arrangements could deliver similar results at a lower cost.

Such scrutiny, Naymote suggested, would help lawmakers establish the agreement’s long-term implications for public expenditure and determine whether projected savings are realistic.

The organization further called for measurable implementation targets and public reporting on enrollment, identity credential delivery, the number of connected government agencies, complaints received, total costs and independently verified savings.

It said these indicators would allow citizens and oversight institutions to assess whether the system is delivering on its stated objectives.

Data Protection and Public Control

Naymote also raised concerns about the governance and security of national identification records, calling for government ownership and control of identity data, secure access arrangements, restrictions against misuse and independent audits.

It urged lawmakers to ensure that the agreement contains enforceable provisions for transferring system control and relevant assets to the government when required.

The organization stressed that integrating identity verification across public services should not give every participating institution unrestricted access to citizens’ personal records.

Instead, agencies should be permitted to obtain only the information necessary to perform their legally authorized functions, with appropriate safeguards to prevent unauthorized access and misuse.

The proposed safeguards, Naymote said, should be supported by clear legal obligations and effective oversight mechanisms.

Nationwide Access and Citizen Protection

Naymote further urged the Legislature to ensure that the system remains accessible to citizens throughout Liberia, including people in remote communities and those who face difficulties obtaining official documents.

It called for free first-time enrollment and basic identification credentials, mobile enrollment services across all 15 counties, accessible service points and timely procedures for correcting errors in identity records.

The organization warned that administrative failures should not prevent eligible citizens from accessing essential public services or exercising their voting rights.

It said the system’s design and implementation must account for citizens who encounter registration difficulties, incorrect personal information or delays in receiving their identification credentials.

Naymote also encouraged lawmakers to ensure that the agreement establishes clear procedures for addressing complaints and correcting errors without imposing unreasonable costs or delays on applicants.

Public Hearings Recommended

As legislative consideration continues, Naymote called for public hearings involving the National Identification Registry (NIR), NEC, relevant government ministries, technical experts, civil society organizations and members of the public.

The proposed consultations, it said, would give stakeholders an opportunity to examine the agreement’s technical design, financial obligations, data protection provisions and potential implications for elections and public service delivery.

The organization said Liberia needs an identification system that citizens can access, institutions can trust and taxpayers can afford.

Naymote reaffirmed its willingness to support policy analysis, public education and independent monitoring as the government and Legislature consider the proposed agreement.

The central question, the organization said, is whether the US$52 million investment can deliver a secure and accessible national identification system that reduces unnecessary duplication, strengthens public administration and produces demonstrable benefits for citizens.

Monrovia’s participation in the three-day meeting focuses on boundary management, peaceful coexistence, cross-border development and regional integration.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

MONROVIA — Liberia is participating in the Third Annual Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of National Boundary Commissions in Banjul, The Gambia, as regional governments seek to strengthen border management, deepen cooperation and promote peaceful coexistence across West Africa.

The meeting, which runs from October 6 to 8, 2026, brings together heads of national boundary commissions and representatives of border governance institutions from ECOWAS member states to discuss shared boundary issues and strategies for improving regional coordination.

According to a press release from Liberia’s Ministry of Local Government, the country is represented by D. Emmanuel Wheinyue, Assistant Minister for Research, Policy and Planning and Chair of the Liberia Technical Border Committee.

The committee is a multisectoral body comprising 15 government institutions responsible for addressing border management, boundary governance and cross-border cooperation. It serves as Liberia’s principal technical platform for coordinating border-related policies and engagements with neighboring countries.

Regional Cooperation on Border Governance

The annual meeting was institutionalized in 2024 under the African Union–ECOWAS–West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) coordination framework to strengthen collaboration among national and regional institutions responsible for border governance.

The gathering provides a platform for member states to exchange experiences, assess progress on existing initiatives and identify practical responses to emerging challenges affecting border communities and regional integration.

During the three-day meeting, participants are expected to review recommendations adopted at the Second Meeting of ECOWAS Heads of National Boundary Commissions, held in Cotonou, Benin, in 2025.

They will also assess ongoing national, bilateral and regional border governance programs and explore approaches to boundary delimitation, demarcation and reaffirmation, as well as development initiatives in communities along shared borders.

Discussions are further expected to address mechanisms for strengthening cooperation among ECOWAS member states and regional institutions.

Liberia Highlights Border Management Priorities

Liberia’s participation comes as the country engages in regional efforts to improve the coordination of border policies and cooperation with neighboring states.

Through the Liberia Technical Border Committee, the government coordinates the work of relevant institutions on boundary governance and cross-border issues.

The Ministry of Local Government said Liberia’s participation reflects the government’s commitment to effective border management, regional peace and security, and sustainable development in border communities.

Effective border governance can support peaceful relations between neighboring countries, facilitate cross-border movement and cooperation, and help communities address issues arising from shared boundaries.

The meeting also offers Liberia an opportunity to exchange experiences with other ECOWAS member states and contribute to regional discussions on boundary management and development.

ECOWAS, AU and WAEMU Institutions Participate

The meeting is organized by the ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Free Movement of Persons, Migration and Tourism.

Participants include representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the WAEMU Commission, the African Union Border Programme and development partners supporting border governance initiatives across West Africa.

Their participation is intended to strengthen coordination between national authorities and regional institutions working to improve border management and advance regional integration.

The Ministry of Local Government said Liberia would continue to support ECOWAS initiatives aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation, improving the management of shared boundaries and promoting sustainable development in border communities.

Monrovia Calls for Concessional Loans, Credit Guarantees and Private-Sector Partnerships to Boost Food Production, Strengthen Agribusiness and Advance Inclusive Growth

NEW YORK — Liberia has called for increased investment in agriculture and affordable financing to accelerate poverty eradication, strengthen food security and transform the country’s largely subsistence-based agricultural sector into a commercially viable industry.

Leon Mannie Talery, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered Liberia’s position during a joint general discussion of the United Nations General Assembly’s Second Committee at its 81st session.

The discussion focused on Eradication of Poverty and Other Development Issues and Agricultural Development, Food Security and Nutrition.

In his statement, Talery called for expanded concessional financing, blended-finance instruments, credit guarantees and responsible private-sector investment to reduce risks associated with agricultural production and attract capital across the agricultural value chain.

He emphasized that agriculture remains central to Liberia’s economic transformation, particularly as the country seeks to move beyond subsistence farming toward commercially viable agribusinesses capable of generating employment, increasing household incomes and improving national food security.

Liberia’s priorities include increasing domestic food production, improving storage, processing and packaging facilities, strengthening links between farmers and markets, and expanding value addition to locally produced agricultural commodities.

The government believes that increased investment in these areas could improve agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and create greater economic opportunities for farmers and other participants in the agricultural value chain.

ARREST Agenda at the Center of Development Strategy

Talery also highlighted Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the government’s nationally owned development framework intended to promote inclusive economic growth, reduce poverty and translate economic progress into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.

He said Liberia’s development priorities are directed at building a more productive economy, expanding opportunities and ensuring that economic growth contributes to improved living conditions for all Liberians.

The agenda is also intended to support Liberia’s efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those relating to poverty reduction, food security, employment and access to essential services.

Talery stressed that achieving these objectives would require sustained investment, effective implementation of national development policies and stronger partnerships between the government, the private sector and international development partners.

He underscored the importance of national ownership and sound governance in ensuring that development financing translates into tangible benefits for communities.

Five-Year Development Plan Emphasizes Key Sectors

During the discussion, Talery outlined Liberia’s five-year development plan, highlighting agriculture, roads, the rule of law, education, sanitation and tourism as priority areas.

He emphasized that progress across these sectors would be essential to expanding economic opportunities, strengthening public institutions and improving the delivery of essential services.

Agriculture, in particular, remains a key component of the government’s strategy to reduce poverty by expanding productive activities beyond subsistence farming and creating stronger connections between rural producers and domestic markets.

The government’s approach also places emphasis on mobilizing resources to support agricultural production and related businesses, including enterprises involved in processing, packaging, transportation and marketing.

Talery called for greater cooperation with international partners to secure financing and technical support while encouraging responsible private investment capable of strengthening domestic production and supporting long-term economic growth.

Affordable Financing Needed to Unlock Agricultural Potential

Liberia’s appeal for affordable financing reflects the need to mobilize capital for agricultural development while reducing the risks that can discourage investment in the sector.

Concessional financing, which generally offers more favorable terms than commercial borrowing, could help fund agricultural infrastructure and other development priorities. Blended finance, meanwhile, combines public or development resources with private capital to encourage investment in projects that might otherwise be considered too risky.

Credit guarantees could also help improve access to financing for agricultural businesses and other enterprises across the value chain.

Talery stressed that these instruments, alongside responsible private-sector investment, could help attract the resources needed to expand agricultural production and improve the sector’s commercial viability.

However, the effectiveness of such financing would depend on sound implementation, accountable management and the ability to connect investment with practical improvements in production, processing and market access.

Poverty Eradication Requires Long-Term Transformation

In concluding his remarks, Talery described poverty eradication as a central challenge of sustainable development, arguing that it requires structural economic transformation rather than reliance on short-term relief measures.

He said development strategies must prioritize the creation of decent jobs, higher household incomes, stronger food security and expanded access to education, healthcare and other essential services.

For Liberia, these objectives are closely linked to the country’s ability to increase domestic production, strengthen its agricultural sector and create sustainable economic opportunities.

Talery’s statement at the United Nations underscored the government’s position that affordable development financing, stronger partnerships and effective national policies are necessary to accelerate poverty reduction and achieve inclusive growth.

Liberia’s call places agricultural investment at the center of its broader development ambitions, with the stated goal of building a more productive economy in which growth generates measurable improvements in the lives of its citizens.

Monrovia — The President of the Tappita District University and College Students Association (TADUCSA), Effort N. Karr, has called on the University of Liberia administration to urgently resume academic activities, proposing online classes and the use of the Fendall campus to prevent further disruption to students’ education.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

In a press statement issued Tuesday, October 13, Karr appealed to University of Liberia President Dr. Layli Maparyan and her administration to introduce alternative learning arrangements while renovation work continues at the university’s main campus.

The appeal comes amid the suspension of academic activities at the University of Liberia following strike actions by the University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association over staff and faculty benefits and concerns about the institution’s deplorable conditions.

It is not yet clear whether the demands for faculty and staff benefits that prompted the strike have been addressed. Meanwhile, renovation work has commenced at the university’s Capitol Hill campus, leaving students awaiting clarity on when academic activities will resume.

The disruption has left students waiting for classes to resume, raising concerns about potential delays to academic calendars, graduation plans and future opportunities.

Karr, who represents students from Tappita Statutory District in Nimba County attending tertiary institutions across Liberia, said the university’s infrastructure improvements were necessary but should not bring academic activities to a complete standstill when alternative arrangements could be made.

“Our position is clear: Renovation should improve the university, not unnecessarily suspend the education of its students,” Karr said.

He noted that while several other universities across Liberia had commenced academic activities, University of Liberia students remained uncertain about when regular classes would resume.

According to him, the administration should consider practical measures that would allow students to continue their education without waiting for renovation work to be completed.

Proposes Online Classes, Fendall Campus

Karr outlined three recommendations he believes could help minimize the disruption.

First, he called on the administration to introduce online classes for students assigned to the main campus, where renovation work is ongoing. He argued that virtual learning would allow students to continue their academic programs while physical improvements proceed.

Second, he urged the university to consider resuming regular in-person classes at its Fendall campus, provided the necessary facilities and learning conditions are available.

The proposal, he said, would allow students who can be accommodated at Fendall to return to classrooms rather than remain idle during the interruption.

Third, Karr called for the administration to communicate a clear reopening plan, including a timeline for the resumption of academic activities and arrangements to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities for students at both campuses.

He said clear communication would help students plan their academic and personal lives while reducing uncertainty surrounding the university’s operations.

Warns of Consequences for Students

The TADUCSA president said prolonged delays in the resumption of classes could have significant consequences for students who have invested time, money and personal sacrifices in pursuing higher education.

He emphasized that students’ educational aspirations should remain central to decisions concerning the university’s operations, particularly when disruptions threaten to extend their time in school.

“Students invest their time, financial resources, and aspirations in their education,” Karr said, warning that prolonged delays could affect academic calendars, graduation plans and future opportunities.

He acknowledged the importance of infrastructural development, noting that improved facilities are essential to creating a better learning environment. However, he argued that renovation and academic activities should be coordinated to avoid unnecessary interruptions.

For students, the concern extends beyond the temporary closure of classrooms to the uncertainty surrounding when they will be able to return and how the interruption might affect their academic progress.

Karr said the administration could address these concerns through responsible planning, constructive dialogue and practical arrangements that allow learning to continue while renovation work is underway.

Calls for Constructive Engagement

Karr stressed that his appeal was not intended to criticize the university administration but to draw attention to the difficulties students are facing.

He urged Maparyan and the relevant authorities to give the proposals serious consideration and take appropriate steps toward reopening academic activities.

“As a student leader, I believe that constructive dialogue, responsible leadership, and practical planning can help address this challenge in the best interest of the student population,” he said.

The Tappita District University and College Students Association brings together students from Tappita Statutory District who are pursuing tertiary education at institutions across Liberia. A significant number of its members attend the University of Liberia, making the disruption particularly consequential for the association’s constituency.

Karr said the association remained committed to advocating for quality education and student welfare, expressing hope that the administration would respond positively to the appeal.

His proposed measures offer possible alternatives to a prolonged suspension of academic activities, although their implementation would depend on the university’s capacity to support online instruction, the readiness of the Fendall campus and decisions by the administration.

The immediate challenge for the university is to address the concerns that prompted the faculty and staff strike while determining how best to restore academic activities and minimize further disruption to students.

For Karr and the students he represents, the central message is that infrastructure improvements and uninterrupted learning should not be treated as competing priorities.

“Education must continue, even while development is taking place,” he said.

MONROVIA — Liberia’s top judge has declared that the country’s trial jury system has been so badly compromised that it may no longer be worth keeping. That position has set the Judiciary against the legal profession and a sitting senator, and has raised the question of what protects a verdict once the jury is gone.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr. made the call on Monday at the opening of the Supreme Court’s October Term. He told the courtroom that jury manipulation was eroding the administration of justice in both civil and criminal matters. “A corrupt jury is worse than no jury at all,” he said.

Within hours, the proposal had drawn a response from the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), a challenge from Senator Darius Dillon, and warnings from lawyers who say the plan would trade one weakness for another.

The Chief Justice’s Evidence

Gbeisay did not present the call as theory. He pointed to reported cases of jury tampering in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Bomi and Margibi counties, involving charges ranging from rape to drug trafficking. He also referred to suspected interference in proceedings at Criminal Court “C” in Monrovia.

The earliest example dates to 2022 in the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Nimba County. The Chief Justice alleged that a deputy marshal assigned to the circuit had been used as a conduit to compromise a jury.

In Republic of Liberia v. David Nagbe, a rape trial in Grand Gedeh County during the May Term of 2025, tampering was reportedly identified four days after an acquittal. In Republic of Liberia v. George Bongar, another rape case, this time in Bomi County during the May Term of 2026, alleged tampering surfaced 19 days after an acquittal.

In Margibi County, he cited the drug case Republic of Liberia v. Quita Dolo et al., in which interference was reportedly suspected while proceedings were still pending.

He also discussed a US$100,000 drug-related case before Criminal Court “C” and a separate matter in which allegations of jury tampering and misconduct emerged seven days after an acquittal. According to the address, Judge Ousman F. Fieka investigated the latter and established gross jury tampering.

The Chief Justice also noted that jurors are members of the public, not Judiciary employees, but that their conduct nonetheless reflects on the courts.

The Bar Says Fix It First

The LNBA responded the same day. Its President, Cllr. Juah Lawson, condemned jury tampering and said anyone who corrupts a juror, attempts to, or serves as an intermediary strike at the integrity of the justice system. “Such conduct must have consequences,” he said.

The Bar stopped short of backing abolition. Lawson accepted the Chief Justice’s invitation for the Legislature, the International Bar, the Law Reform Commission and other stakeholders to examine the proposal and pursue constitutional reform, but drew a line around what that acceptance means. “The LNBA accepts the invitation to participate in this intervention,” he said. “However, our participation should not be understood as an endorsement of abolition.”

Lawson said trial by jury holds an important place in Liberia’s constitutional framework and argued for diagnosis before surgery. “Before we contemplate abandoning the institution itself, we should carefully examine why there is failure in particular instances and whether those failures may be corrected,” he said.

The Association listed areas it wants examined first:

– how jurors are selected and vetted;

– jurors’ security and sequestration;

– their compensation and conditions of service;

– access to jurors and their intermediaries;

– the protection of juror information;

– the role of court personnel; and

– the investigation and prosecution of those behind tampering.

“Liberia must have this conversation,” Lawson said, “but it must be a conversation grounded in evidence, constitutional fidelity and broad stakeholder consultation.”

Analysts who spoke to FrontPage Africa said the response shows the legal profession is willing to consider structural change but wants proof that stronger safeguards and enforcement cannot solve the problem.

Senator Dillon: A Referendum, not a Bill

Senator Dillon took the sharpest position. In a Facebook statement, he rejected the proposal and argued that trial by jury is a constitutionally protected right that cannot be removed through ordinary legislation. Citing Article 20(a) of the 1986 Constitution, he said abolition would require a national referendum.

He also argued that the reported cases point to weak enforcement, not a flawed institution. “We cannot simply seek to undo laws because of our failure to summon the courage to implement and enforce the laws,” Dillon wrote.

His reading of the amendment process is a statement of his own legal position, and the correct procedure would ultimately have to be settled by authoritative legal interpretation. But the constitutional text gives his argument weight. Article 20(a) guarantees due process and a fair hearing, while Article 21(h) provides for the right to a speedy, public and impartial trial by jury of the vicinity in the criminal cases it covers. Any move to abolish or substantially alter that right would call for close analysis of the applicable amendment procedures.

Who Watches the Judge?

The sharpest objection to the proposal is not about juries at all. It concerns what replaces them. A lawyer who spoke to FrontPage Africa on condition of anonymity, citing fear of retribution, strongly opposed abolition. The lawyer argued that handing greater decision-making power to judges, without addressing alleged corruption on the bench, could damage public confidence further.

The lawyer alleged that some judicial officers accept bribes to influence judgments, and that some legal practitioners will not take a case unless clients provide money meant to influence jurors. These claims are serious and have not been independently established. But they point to a possible chain of corruption in which several actors exploit the same weak points.

Critics say this is the accountability gap in the Chief Justice’s plan. Removing jurors eliminates one point of manipulation, but it does not eliminate bribery or intimidation. Someone determined to obtain an unlawful outcome could simply redirect the pressure. Instead of approaching several jurors, that person could focus on the single officer deciding the case.

That does not mean judges are generally corrupt, and nothing in the debate establishes that they are. It means that concentrating a verdict in one set of hands raises the stakes on every safeguard around those hands.

Legal systems worldwide operate judge-only trials fairly, but those systems typically rest on independent courts, transparent processes and credible discipline of misconduct. Liberia’s critics ask whether those foundations are in place. If jurors can be bought, they say, the country must also be able to say what happens when a judge is accused of being bought.

Allegations Are Not Findings

Observers also say the details of the cited cases matter. An allegation raised after an acquittal is not proof that a verdict was improperly obtained, and misconduct in one trial does not necessarily mean the whole system cannot function fairly.

What the public still lacks, they say, is a clear account of which allegations were formally investigated, what evidence was found, whether anyone was charged or disciplined, and whether those findings held up in court. Only Judge Fieka’s inquiry was described in the address as having established tampering.

That information would help separate substantiated corruption from suspicion. It would also show whether the failure lay in the jury system or in the enforcement that should have protected it. Without it, critics say, citizens are being asked to give up a constitutional safeguard before getting a full explanation of why existing laws failed.

Enforcement and Its Gaps

Many of those opposing abolition return to the same point: the law already requires protection of jury proceedings. When a juror is bribed, a court official facilitates tampering or a lawyer tries to influence a verdict, the response should be investigation and prosecution where evidence supports charges, along with professional discipline where it applies.

A credible deterrent depends on misconduct being detected, fairly investigated and punished. When it goes unpunished, scrapping the institution can look like a faster fix than confronting the people responsible. But critics argue that redesigning an institution cannot substitute for enforcement.

The same standard, they say, must apply to judges and lawyers. Allegations should be examined through independent and credible procedures consistent with due process. Judicial officers should not be presumed guilty because rumors circulate, but the authority of the bench should not shield anyone from legitimate scrutiny either.

The Judiciary’s credibility, they add, depends not only on the judgments it delivers but on how it responds when its own processes are questioned.

Questions Any Reform Must Answer

If Liberia moves toward a judge-only model, the questions critics want answered are concrete:

– How are complaints of judicial misconduct investigated, and by whom?

– What disciplinary tools exist, and how transparent are their outcomes?

– Are court proceedings documented well enough to permit meaningful scrutiny?

– What protection exists for those who report corruption inside the legal profession?

These questions, they say, go to the legitimacy of whichever system the country chooses.

Neither model is inherently better. Professional judges may be better placed to explain the legal reasoning behind a verdict, while citizen participation can guard against concentrated state power. The question, observers say, is which arrangement can protect constitutional rights and deliver impartial justice under Liberia’s actual institutional conditions.

The Chief Justice’s invitation to the Legislature, the Bar and the Law Reform Commission offers a chance to move beyond competing declarations. Those following the debate say a credible review should:

– examine the cases cited in the address and establish the status of each investigation and prosecution;

– determine how the alleged interference occurred and whether existing laws were enforced;

– assess the vulnerability of judges and court officials to improper influence, and the effectiveness of discipline;

– consider remedies such as stronger juror screening and protection, tighter security around deliberations, stricter controls on contact with jurors, better reporting channels and more effective bribery investigations; and

– weigh every proposal against constitutional requirements, defendants’ and victims’ rights, the need for timely trials and the courts’ practical capacity.

If a judge-only system is ultimately considered, they say, its backers must explain how judicial independence would be protected, how allegations against judges would be investigated, and how pending and future cases would be handled under the constitutional process required for change.

A reform of this size, they argue, should not be driven by frustration with a series of troubling cases. It should rest on evidence of which arrangements are failing, why, and how the alternative would fix them.

The Question That Remains

No one in the debate disputes that jury tampering, if proven, is a grave offense. A verdict obtained through bribery or intimidation harms defendants, victims and public trust in the rule of law.

But the Chief Justice’s critics maintain that removing juries would not resolve the underlying problem. If the jury system is compromised, they say, it must be repaired. If judges face allegations, those must be investigated fairly and independently. If lawyers are implicated, professional accountability must follow where the evidence supports it.

“No institution should be beyond scrutiny,” as critics put it, and no constitutional right should be set aside without a legally sound and publicly examined justification.

For now, the proposal has opened a debate that reaches well beyond courtroom procedure. Remove the jury, critics say, and the judge becomes even more central to the verdict. Until Liberia can say who holds the judge accountable, the question of whether the country is confronting corruption or only moving the power to decide justice from one place to another will stay unanswered.

The rebellion within the Speaker’s own ranks exposes growing discontent over lawmakers’ benefits and legislative support, reviving memories of the bitter Koffa-Koon leadership crisis.

MONROVIA — House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon is confronting a fresh challenge to his leadership, with about 41 lawmakers reportedly boycotting the reopening of the House of Representatives and holding a separate meeting to discuss grievances against the chamber’s leadership.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

The development is significant not simply because of the number of lawmakers involved, but because several reportedly associated with the emerging Reformist Movement are political allies of Koon who occupy influential positions on key House committees.

Their participation suggests that the discontent may extend beyond the familiar divisions that have shaped the Legislature in recent years. It also raises questions about whether Koon can maintain the support of lawmakers whose cooperation is essential to the functioning of the House.

The immediate dispute, according to lawmakers who spoke publicly, centers on benefits, legislative support funds and other resources they allege have been withheld under the current leadership. But reports that the group is seeking signatures on a proposed 12-count resolution targeting the House leadership have introduced a more consequential possibility: a renewed contest over who controls the chamber.

The precise contents of the proposed resolution have not been publicly established, and the lawmakers who addressed the meeting did not openly confirm that removing Koon and Deputy Speaker Thomas P. Fallah was their objective.

For now, the central question is whether the Reformist Movement represents a coordinated effort to force administrative and financial concessions or the early stages of another leadership struggle.

A Rebellion From Within

The lawmakers gathered in Schefflin, Margibi County, on Friday, while Koon and a small group of legislators attended the formal reopening ceremony at the Capitol following the legislative break.

The reported boycott was striking: only 13 of the House’s 73 members reportedly attended the ceremony, including the Speaker.

The gathering outside Monrovia also brought together lawmakers who hold influential committee positions, including chairs and co-chairs responsible for scrutinizing public procurement, government contracts, natural resources, the judiciary and public expenditure.

Among those reportedly associated with the Reformist Movement are Jeremiah Garwo Sokan Sr. of Grand Gedeh County District #1, chairman of the House Committee on Mines, Natural Resources and Environment; Prince K. Koinah of Bong County District #1, chairman of the Committee on Contracts, Monopolies, Public Procurement and Concessions and co-chair of the Public Accounts and Expenditure Committee; and Sam P. Jallah of Bomi County District #3, co-chair of the Hydrocarbon Committee.

Other lawmakers reportedly linked to the movement include Bernard Blue Benson Jr. of Montserrado County District #17, chairman of the Committee on Information, Broadcasting, Culture and Tourism; Anthony Williams of Maryland County District #2, co-chair of the Peace, Religion and National Reconciliation Committee; Augustine B. Chiewolo of Lofa County District #5, chairman of the Committee on Resettlement, Repatriation, Relief and Readjustment; and Johnson S. N. Williams Sr. of River Gee County District #3, chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.

Their reported involvement gives the agitation institutional significance. These are not merely lawmakers expressing dissatisfaction from the margins of the chamber; several occupy positions that place them at the center of legislative oversight and administration.

However, committee positions alone do not establish the intentions of individual lawmakers, and the full membership and objectives of the Reformist Movement remain unclear.

What is evident from Friday’s gathering is that a substantial number of lawmakers chose to meet separately rather than participate in the official reopening ceremony.

Benefits Dispute or Leadership Challenge?

The lawmakers’ public statements have focused primarily on financial and administrative grievances.

Representative Frank Saah Foko of Montserrado County District #9 said Friday’s meeting was intended to give lawmakers a collective platform to express their concerns. He indicated that another meeting had been scheduled for Sunday, October 11, when the group was expected to determine its next steps.

Representative Matthew Joe of Grand Bassa County said the discussions centered on demanding benefits and legislative support funds that he alleged had been denied under Koon and Fallah.

Joe described the concerns as recurring and said lawmakers intended to engage the relevant authorities to press their demands. Asked whether the gathering was intended to organize the removal of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, he said he was unaware of such a plan.

Representative Samuel Enders of Montserrado County District #6 similarly said the discussions concerned benefits and district support, adding that he knew of no effort to remove the House leadership.

Representative Abu Kamara of Montserrado County District #15 described the meeting positively but offered little detail about its outcome.

These explanations leave an important gap between the public grievances and the reported effort to circulate a 12-count resolution.

If the dispute is principally about benefits and district support, the movement could be pursuing financial transparency, the release of resources or changes in administrative procedures. If the proposed resolution formally targets Koon and Fallah, however, the confrontation could move from a dispute over entitlements to a contest over the leadership itself.

The distinction matters because a demand for financial accountability is not necessarily equivalent to a motion to remove legislative officers. The resolution’s text, the signatures supporting it and the demands accompanying it would help establish the movement’s actual objective.

Neither the full resolution nor a detailed account of the alleged financial and administrative irregularities has been publicly established in the information available.

That leaves the allegations unverified and makes a response from the Speaker’s Office particularly important.

Why Koon’s Own Allies Matter

The political significance of the agitation lies partly in the reported involvement of lawmakers who have worked alongside Koon and occupy senior committee positions.

Leadership in the House depends not only on formal authority but also on the ability to maintain working relationships with members, coordinate legislative business and secure cooperation across committees.

When discontent emerges among lawmakers associated with the leadership, it can complicate that process even if no formal removal motion is ultimately pursued.

The reported involvement of lawmakers overseeing procurement, public accounts and other major portfolios also places questions about financial administration at the center of the dispute. Their allegations, however, should not be treated as proof of misconduct without supporting documentation or findings by an appropriate authority.

The movement’s leverage will depend on more than the number of lawmakers attending a meeting. Its members would need to demonstrate sustained coordination, agreement on their demands and a willingness to pursue a common course of action.

The next meeting could therefore be an important test of whether Friday’s gathering was a temporary show of discontent or the beginning of a more organized challenge.

The Koffa-Koon Crisis Offers a Warning

The confrontation inevitably recalls the prolonged leadership dispute that preceded Koon’s emergence as Speaker.

During that earlier crisis, lawmakers aligned with what became known as the Majority Bloc boycotted sessions and held parallel meetings. They subsequently declared Koon Speaker and Fallah Deputy Speaker while Cllr. Fonati Koffa remained the sitting Speaker.

The dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court, which ruled that actions taken outside the House chamber while the Speaker remained in office and present were ultra vires.

Koffa later resigned, clearing the way for Koon’s election as Speaker, while Fallah retained the deputy speakership.

That episode exposed deep divisions within the House and demonstrated how disagreements over legislative leadership can disrupt institutional operations and raise questions about the validity of decisions taken during a political confrontation.

The current agitation does not automatically mean the House is headed for a repeat of that crisis. The circumstances may differ, and the Reformist Movement has not publicly confirmed that removing Koon and Fallah is its objective.

Nevertheless, the earlier dispute provides an important institutional backdrop. Any attempt to change the leadership would have to be assessed against the House’s rules and applicable constitutional requirements, rather than simply the strength of a faction’s public declarations.

The previous crisis also illustrates the risks of parallel meetings and competing claims to authority when lawmakers fail to resolve disputes through established legislative procedures.

The Speaker’s Office Keeps Its Distance

When contacted about the reported effort to remove the Speaker, Vehzelee Sumo, head of communications for the Speaker’s Office, declined to comment, saying the office would respond at the appropriate time.

The office had previously said it was unaware of any plan to remove Koon and would not comment on rumors.

The limited response leaves unanswered questions about the allegations involving benefits, legislative support funds and administrative irregularities.

A substantive response from the leadership could clarify which resources have been requested, what has been disbursed and whether disagreements exist over the procedures governing legislative support. Such information would help distinguish a political dispute from a documented administrative failure.

For the lawmakers, the publication of their proposed resolution and a clear statement of their demands would similarly help establish whether their campaign is directed at financial administration, the leadership’s conduct or both.

What Comes Next?

The Reformist Movement’s reported follow-up meeting on Sunday, October 11, is expected to provide a clearer indication of its direction.

Several developments will be worth watching: whether the group releases the proposed 12-count resolution; whether the reported signatures translate into a formal legislative initiative; whether its members present documentary evidence for their allegations; and whether Koon’s office responds to the concerns over benefits and support funds.

The number of lawmakers who continue to participate will also matter. A large turnout at a single gathering demonstrates discontent, but sustained coordination and a clearly defined objective would provide stronger evidence of an organized leadership challenge.

For Koon, the immediate issue is not simply whether a motion to remove him emerges. It is whether the House can restore sufficient cooperation to conduct its business without another prolonged confrontation.

For the Legislature as an institution, the dispute raises broader questions about financial transparency, the distribution of legislative resources and the accountability of its leadership to members.

Those questions remain unresolved, and the public statements made after Friday’s meeting do not establish that a leadership change is inevitable.

What the boycott does establish is that the House is facing a serious internal dispute at the start of its renewed legislative business. Whether that dispute ends in negotiated concessions or develops into a formal challenge to Koon and Fallah will depend on what the lawmakers decide, what evidence they produce, and how the leadership responds.

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County — For Saya Doe Sio, returning to the place where she was born and raised is always deeply personal. But on Monday, October 5, 2026, the return carried an even greater emotional weight.

Standing on the grounds of the Annie T. Doe Memorial Academy in Sugar Cane Farm, Lower Buchanan, Sio joined her husband and co-founder of the Annie T. Doe Memorial Foundation, Francis Sio, members of the family, friends from the United States, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to unveil a bust honoring the woman whose life and values continue to shape the institution.

That woman was her mother, the late Annie T. Doe.

The unveiling brought together generations of the Doe family and members of the wider foundation family, including supporters whose contributions have helped sustain the academy and its mission.

For the students, the occasion was not simply a ceremony. It was an opportunity to welcome the people behind an institution that has become part of their lives.

Melvina Saydee, a Grade 8 student, delivered a warm welcome on behalf of the students, administrators and staff.

“On behalf of our staff, students [and] administrators of this noble and prestigious institution, we wholeheartedly want to welcome you to our school, Annie T. Doe Memorial Academy,” Saydee said.

She told the visiting family and guests that she hoped their presence, conversations and interactions with the students would inspire them.

The students also presented roses as a symbol of “peace and love.”

Sio responded with gratitude, telling the students that whenever she returns to Buchanan, she comes with “good tidings and great joy.”

But the heart of the day belonged to the woman whose name the academy carries.

Remembering a Mother, Reclaiming a Dream
In an emotional reflection before the unveiling, Saya Sio pointed toward the family home where she was born and raised and recalled the humble beginnings that shaped her life.

“This is the house that I was born and raised in,” she said. “Just like Jenneh Peters, Eric Peters, we grew up in this house running around barefooted like all of you as you see today.”

Sio recalled that her mother raised nine children and instilled in them two principles that would ultimately become central to her daughter’s life’s work: faith and education.

“My mother was a missionary,” Sio said. “She believed in community. She believed that every child should have access to quality education.”

But Annie Doe had herself been denied the opportunity to receive a formal education.

According to her daughter, she survived through hard work, selling used clothes and doing whatever was necessary to provide for her family. Sio recalled accompanying her mother’s entrepreneurial efforts from an early age, even selling items after school to help put food on the family table.

Yet, amid hardship, Annie Doe continued to believe in education and the possibilities it could create.

“She believed in the power of education,” Sio recalled.

Then came a prediction that Sio said she did not fully understand at the time.

Her mother once sat on the porch of their home and told her: “I see you one day coming back to this community and rewriting the story for your friends.”

Decades later, that vision has become reality.

Sio’s recollection of her mother’s death was perhaps the most emotional moment of the ceremony.

She recalled that on September 20, 1989, Annie Doe traveled toward Monrovia to obtain used clothing for her business. Sio said she was supposed to accompany her mother but remained in Monrovia.

On her mother’s return journey to Buchanan, tragedy struck.

Sio said Annie Doe and two other people who were traveling with her died in a road crash.

“I came in the car right behind her and I met her lying in the pool of blood with the two individuals that me and my friend could have been in the car,” she recalled.

For the teenage daughter who lost her mother, the tragedy could have become the defining story of her life.

Instead, Sio says, it became the beginning of another story.

“But God always uses your pain to produce purpose,” she said.

That purpose, she explained, became the driving force behind the creation of the Annie T. Doe Memorial Foundation.

“And that’s the reason we are running with the vision for Annie Doe—to make sure what she dreamt of years ago, that every child should have access to quality education,” Sio said.

“That’s the reason the Annie T. Doe Memorial Foundation was formed—to give hope to all of you.”

A Memorial That Speaks to Generations
When the covering was removed from the bust, the inscription offered a concise tribute to the woman being honored:

“The late Annie T. Doe, mother and grandmother to many. A businesswoman, a woman of faith, passion, and dignity. Today we honor her legacy.”

Sio was joined at the unveiling by members of the next generations of the family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“My other siblings could not be here today,” she said, noting that she is the youngest of nine children. “But I will have her great-grand [children] and her grandchildren also join me to cut this.”

The moment transformed the memorial from a monument to the past into a gathering of generations connected by Annie Doe’s life.

Fifteen Years of Turning Vision Into Opportunity

Francis Sio, the foundation’s co-founder, used the occasion to reflect on the journey that brought the family back to the community.

“It’s been 15 years,” he told the students. “And it is only by the grace of God.”

He recalled seeing some of the students grow from kindergarten and first grade into young people now approaching graduation.

“When I look at the faces, some of you, you were just in the kindergarten or first grade. Now you guys are graduating. You guys have grown,” he said.

The foundation’s own account says the academy opened in 2014 with 75 students and has since expanded substantially. It now serves hundreds of students in Buchanan, with its educational mission centered on providing Christian-based education and opportunities for children whose economic circumstances could otherwise limit their futures.

The foundation has also expanded beyond education into women’s empowerment and basic healthcare, making Annie Doe’s legacy one that extends beyond the classroom.

The work has previously attracted attention in Liberia. FrontPage Africa has reported on the foundation’s efforts in Buchanan, including the construction of additional school facilities and its community outreach programs.

Remembering Those Who Made It Possible
The ceremony also recognized members of the foundation’s board and supporters who believed in the vision.

Sio described some of the supporters as “destiny helpers”—people who, despite not always being physically present in Liberia, invested in the lives and education of the students.

“These are people who also believe in Liberia, who have not even traveled to Liberia,” Sio said. “They are called destiny helpers.”

She recognized supporters who had contributed to the education of the academy’s students, noting that 44 people had contributed to one graduating class.

“Again, they are the ones who made it happen for our class,” she said. “And what a way to memorialize and honor the sacrifice.”

The foundation’s records similarly emphasize sponsorship as an important part of its model, describing supporters as “destiny helpers” who invest in students’ futures.

A Legacy Measured in Lives
The significance of Annie T. Doe’s memorial may ultimately be measured not in stone or bronze, but in the lives of the children walking through the gates of the academy.

Her daughter grew up in the same community, experienced the loss of her mother as a teenager, left Liberia for the United States and eventually returned with a vision shaped by the values her mother had instilled in her.

Today, children who might otherwise struggle to access quality education are studying on the very land where Annie Doe raised her family.

The symbolism is difficult to miss.

A woman who was denied formal education helped raise a daughter who returned years later to build an institution centered on education.

A mother who believed that children deserved opportunities now has her name carried by a school where hundreds of children are being prepared for their futures.

And a daughter who once mourned her mother’s death now stands before generations of students, family members and supporters, transforming that loss into a legacy of service.

As Saya Sio looked back on her mother’s life, she made clear that the memorial was never intended to be merely about remembering the past.

It is about continuing the work.

Annie T. Doe may be gone, but in Buchanan, her story is still being written—one child, one classroom and one opportunity at a time.

NEW YORK — Nigerian billionaire and Heirs Holdings Chairman Tony Elumelu has called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s development model, urging governments and international partners to move beyond aid dependence toward trade, investment, entrepreneurship and private sector-led growth.

Elumelu made the call during a fireside chat on the sidelines of the 2026 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he argued that Africa must take greater ownership of its economic transformation while attracting capital to build sustainable industries and create jobs.

The discussion, titled the Darryl G. Behrman Lecture on Africa Policy, was moderated by Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). It examined Africa’s place in the global economy, entrepreneurship, energy security, private sector development and the future of US-Africa relations.

Elumelu urged international investors to abandon outdated perceptions of Africa as an aid-dependent continent and recognize its potential as a destination for commercial investment and long-term growth.

He argued that treating Africa as a single, high-risk market overlooks the economic diversity and investment opportunities across its 54 countries.

According to Elumelu, international investors can better navigate African markets by forming strategic co-investment partnerships with credible local business leaders who understand the operating environment.

He reaffirmed his philosophy of Africapitalism, which promotes private sector-led development and argues that businesses should play a central role in driving Africa’s economic transformation.

While acknowledging the role of aid in providing immediate relief, Elumelu said it could not substitute for sustained investment in industries, infrastructure and productive economic activities.

He called on foreign venture capital firms, pension funds and development finance institutions to work with local financial institutions to finance critical infrastructure and strengthen trade corridors across the continent.

Youth Entrepreneurship as an Economic Imperative

Elumelu also highlighted Africa’s youthful population, describing young entrepreneurs as essential to the continent’s economic development, security and long-term stability.

He argued that tackling youth unemployment was critical to reducing irregular migration and preventing social instability, urging international philanthropies, multilateral agencies and corporations to expand support for youth-led businesses.

Citing the work of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has committed $100 million to empowering young African entrepreneurs, he pointed to the provision of $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, alongside business training, as a way to stimulate enterprise development and job creation in rural and urban communities.

He called for greater investment in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which he said could help expand economic opportunities and strengthen local economies.

Energy Access Central to Africa’s Industrialization

On energy security and climate policy, Elumelu advocated a pragmatic and equitable approach to the global energy transition, warning that Africa’s industrial and digital ambitions would remain constrained without reliable electricity.

He noted that more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing governments seeking to expand manufacturing, digital services and other productive sectors.

Elumelu called for Africa’s natural gas resources to be used as a transition fuel to power industries and stabilize electricity grids while investment in renewable energy infrastructure continues.

His position emphasized the need to balance energy access and industrial development with the ongoing transition toward cleaner energy sources.

Rethinking US-Africa Trade Relations

Elumelu also called for a shift in US-Africa economic relations, urging both sides to move beyond traditional concessionary arrangements toward partnerships that support manufacturing, investment and deeper integration into global supply chains.

While expressing support for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), he said policymakers should pay greater attention to the cost of producing African goods and delivering them to US markets.

He also advocated bilateral trade arrangements that could strengthen supply-chain integration, encourage domestic manufacturing and remove regulatory barriers to intra-African commerce as the African Continental Free Trade Area gains momentum.

For Elumelu, expanding trade and investment requires more than market access. African businesses must also be able to produce competitively, move goods efficiently and access the capital needed to scale operations.

He maintained that Africa’s economic prosperity was in the broader interest of the international community, arguing that persistent poverty in one part of the world could undermine economic peace and security elsewhere.

His message was that sustainable development would require Africans to take the lead in building productive economies, supported by international partnerships that prioritize investment, enterprise and long-term economic growth over continued reliance on aid.