Monrovia-Against the backdrop of economic strain, youth unemployment, and growing calls for institutional reform, the 105th Commencement Convocation of the University of Liberia became more than a graduation ceremony, it evolved into a national moment of reflection and a direct appeal for urgent transformation in higher education.
By Willie Tokpah
In speeches that blended personal testimony with policy advocacy, Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabah Mabande Varpilah, University President Layli Maparyan, and Class Dux Jamal J. Ghoson each delivered messages that cut to the heart of Liberia’s educational and socio-economic challenges.
‘Resilience Is the Force That Carries Us’
Serving as Convocation Speaker, Senator Varpilah framed the ceremony not simply as an academic milestone, but as a promise, “that the future can be better than the past.”
Drawing from her own journey to Monrovia decades ago as a student, she emphasized resilience as Liberia’s most undervalued national resource.
“Resilience is not something you find,” she declared. “It is something you build, the force that carries you through difficulty when quitting feels justified.”
Her remarks resonated with graduates who endured financial hardship, limited infrastructure, academic disruptions, and personal sacrifices. But beyond celebration, Varpilah shifted the tone to accountability.
She called on both graduates and government to treat higher education as a genuine national priority, not a rhetorical commitment.
“Our universities must not make headlines for the wrong reasons,” she warned, urging systemic reform, improved infrastructure, and equitable access beyond Monrovia.
In a pointed policy recommendation, the senator advocated for elevating the David A. Straz-Sinje Technical and Vocational College in Grand Cape Mount County to a full bachelor’s degree, granting institution, a move she described as critical to decentralizing opportunity.
A President’s Diamond Metaphor
For President Maparyan, the ceremony carried added symbolism.
The graduating class is the first under her leadership and coincides with the university’s Diamond Jubilee year.
Addressing more than 1,200 graduates, she likened their journey to the formation of diamonds under pressure.
“You have endured financial pressures, family responsibilities, research constraints, and systemic limitations,” she said. “Yet you shine.”
Her message emphasized integrity, ethical leadership, and lifelong learning, pillars she described as essential in a rapidly shifting global environment where Liberia remains vulnerable to inequality and economic volatility.
“History remembers excellence, not excuses,” Maparyan said, drawing sustained applause.
Dux Challenges a “Silent Disease”
Perhaps the most emotionally charged address came from Class Dux Jamal J. Ghoson, who spoke candidly about what he termed a “silent disease” affecting Liberia’s youth: self-doubt.
“It is the voice that whispers, ‘You are not enough,’” Ghoson said. “Today, we challenge that voice.”
He acknowledged institutional challenges, limited research facilities, inconsistent systems, and infrastructure gaps, but argued that courage, not comfort, defines leadership.
“We are not just graduates,” he said. “We are the answer to Liberia’s tomorrow.”
A Ceremony, A Mirror
The 105th Convocation served as both celebration and critique, a mirror reflecting the promise of Liberia’s youth alongside the fragility of its institutions.
Liberia remains rich in natural resources, yet youth unemployment and systemic inefficiencies continue to stifle opportunity.
Speakers repeatedly underscored the contradiction: a nation abundant in potential, yet struggling to fully empower its people.
As families cheered and graduates tossed their caps, the atmosphere carried both pride and urgency.
The message from the podium was unmistakable, education must move from ceremonial rhetoric to structural investment.
Graduates must move from personal achievement to public service. And government must match its words with measurable commitment.
If the convocation was a celebration, it was also a call to conscience.
As Senator Varpilah concluded, “Liberia is waiting for you.”
For many in attendance, the deeper question lingered, is Liberia ready to meet them halfway.
