By: Archie Boan
As graduation day approaches, a group of honor students from the University of Liberia is asking a bold national question: Will merit truly matter in Liberia?
In an open letter addressed to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung Sr., the high-achieving students called for the creation of scholarship opportunities to support their pursuit of graduate and doctoral studies abroad.
The letter, dated February 18 and signed by William Varney Vanjah on behalf of the honorees of the Class of 2025, comes just days before their official graduation on February 25.
After years of navigating financial hardship, limited learning resources, and infrastructural challenges at Liberia’s state-run university, the honor graduates say they have proven their commitment to academic excellence.
Now, they are asking the government to match their dedication with tangible support.
“We are proud Liberian students who have worked very hard to graduate with honor,” the group stated. “Through many challenges, we stayed focused because we believe education is the key to building a better Liberia.”
But beyond the celebration of caps and gowns, the students warn that many of them may see their academic journeys cut short due to lack of funding. Without scholarships, they say, the dream of earning advanced degrees abroad and returning home to contribute meaningfully may remain out of reach.
Their appeal is not merely personal. It is framed as a national investment strategy. The honorees argue that supporting top-performing graduates aligns directly with the government’s ARREST Agenda, particularly its emphasis on human capital development and national transformation.
“Investing in honor graduates is investing in Liberia’s future,” the letter emphasized. “If given the opportunity, we will return to serve with integrity, competence, and dedication.”
The call has ignited conversations within academic circles about whether Liberia has a structured, merit-based pathway to nurture its brightest minds. Education advocates say the absence of consistent scholarship programs has long contributed to brain drain and stalled innovation in key sectors.
For many observers, the open letter represents more than a request for financial aid it is a test of whether excellence is merely celebrated rhetorically or supported practically.
As the Class of 2025 prepares to cross the graduation stage, their message is clear: applause is appreciated, but opportunity is essential.
