Liberia: UL President Commends Voices of the Elders For Restoring Stability and Infrastructure Support

MONROVIA— In a major demonstration of civic responsibility and national development, the Voices of the Elders (VOTE), Republic of Liberia on Wednesday, October 21,  presented an additional batch of 100 green classroom chairs to the Administration of the University of Liberia (UL).

The donation marks another significant milestone under VOTE’s flagship “OPERATION SEAT UL” initiative, which aims to procure and donate 22,000 durable chairs to completely eliminate the state university’s long-standing seating deficit.

The presentation was delivered on behalf of Sister Mary Laurene Browne, Chair of VOTE’s OPERATION SEAT UL by Rev. Augustine S. Arkoi, Co-Chair of VOTE and Founder/CEO of the Better Future Foundation (BFF).

Complementing the ARREST Agenda Through Citizen-Led Action

VOTE’s intervention directly reinforces the ARREST Agenda (Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism) championed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. 

By prioritizing the “E” in ARREST through localized solutions and grassroots resource mobilization, VOTE exemplifies how civil society and elder statesmen can actively partner with the Government of Liberia to drive inclusive national development and restore dignity to public higher education.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony on the Capitol Hill Campus, Rev. Arkoi emphasized that true nation-building requires active citizen participation rather than reliance on government intervention alone.

“When VOTE launched OPERATION SEAT UL on November 7, 2025, right here on this historic campus, we did so out of a deep conviction aligned with our vision: To create a country where building a nation is the conscious responsibility of each citizen, and where being Liberian is the first and ultimate identification of every Liberian,” Rev. Arkoi stated.

“Our young people deserve an environment conducive to learning. Today’s delivery of 100 additional chairs represents VOTE’s ongoing progress toward its ultimate target of 22,000 chairs. Sister Mary Laurene Browne would have me assured  the University that this local delivery serves as a prelude to incoming shipments of imported chairs. VOTE solicits the continued financial and moral backing of Liberians at home and in the diaspora, reassuring the public that the 22,000-chair target will be fully realized.’’

Highlighting the symbolic weight of the contribution, Rev. Arkoi quoted Sister Mary Laurene Browne, noting that the chairs were deliberately crafted in green because “the color green signifies renewed hope.” 

He added that this providential symbol aligns with the unprecedented infrastructure, renovation, and modernization works currently taking place across UL campuses under the government-backed leadership of UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan.

University Administration Praises VOTE’s Peacebuilding and Strategic Partnership

Receiving the donation, UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan expressed profound gratitude to VOTE, describing the organization as one of the state university’s most faithful and strategic partners.

Dr. Maparyan recalled Sister Mary Laurene Browne’s key role as Co-Chair of the search committee that selected her as UL President, and praised VOTE’s proactive diplomatic leadership during the intense student chair protests in July and August 2025.

“Even before the November 7, 2025 launch of Operation Seat UL, during the summer when students were protesting heavily about the chair situation, Voices of the Elders was already organizing talks behind the scenes to help calm tensions, restore reason, and find a way forward,” Dr. Maparyan revealed. 

“Through your skillful and loving negotiations, we reduced the fever of the protests and crafted a bona fide solution. It takes the Elders of society to help us find the wisest solutions to our most entrenched problems.”

Dr. Maparyan further commended VOTE for empowering local entrepreneurs and boosting the Liberian economy by contracting domestic woodworkers to produce durable, sustainable wooden armchairs—preserving university tradition while introducing modern quality control.

Empowering Local Business and Expanding Contracts

In direct response to the reliability and superior craftsmanship demonstrated by VOTE’s local contractors, Dr. Maparyan announced on the spot that the University Administration is awarding an additional contract to local vendors to produce matching sets of lecturer desks and chairs donate by VOTE for every classroom across the university.

Representing the contracted vendors, Emmanuel Perry, an Executive of J. P. A. Wood & Furniture Work, thanked VOTE for trusting local Liberian entrepreneurs.

He highlighted that despite negative public perceptions, local artisans are fully capable of high-level service delivery, noting that all chairs delivered under the initiative were 100% pre-financed by the local vendors as a show of commitment to national development. Mr. Perry also expressed deep appreciation to Dr. Maparyan for the new contract award to supply matching lecturer desks.

Spiritual Consecration and Call for Stewardship

The ceremonial handover concluded with a solemn prayer of consecration and exhortation for peace, unity and love among the university administration, government, students, and civic stakeholders, officiated by His Grace, Archbishop Victor Moses Olasemojo, Chairman of the Committee on Prayer & Worship of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC).

Closing the event, Rev. Arkoi and Dr. Maparyan jointly called on the student body and university leadership to cherish and protect the new chairs to ensure long-term utility for future generations of Liberian scholars.

Under the stewardship of Madam Maureen Johnson Hutcheson as its Chairperson, Voices of the Elders (VOTE)- Republic of Liberia is an organization of elder statesmen, women, and civic leaders dedicated to promoting national unity, sustainable peace, good governance, and citizen-led development across Liberia.