Monrovia – The 55th Legislature has approved a law converting Bomi Community College into Western Region University, a move that aligns with the vision of Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe and aims to expand higher education opportunities in the region.
The House of Representatives concurred with the Senate’s passage of an Act that repeals the 2012 law establishing Bomi Community College and replaces it with Western Region University. The House made its decision during its 16th-day sitting after receiving Senate Engrossed Bill #6, which formalizes the institution’s transformation.
The Senate, through its Secretary, communicated to the House that a joint committee had recommended the bill’s passage, emphasizing its potential to enhance access to higher education, drive regional development, and support the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). With the new law in effect, Western Region University will offer bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs across various disciplines.
The transformation of the college into a full-fledged university is expected to stimulate economic growth in the western region by training a skilled workforce in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and healthcare. It also aims to improve educational access for underserved populations, particularly young people and women in Western Liberia.
Established in 2005 and formally enacted into law in 2012, Bomi Community College has been the country’s oldest government-owned community college, offering two-year Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees. The Legislature’s approval of the university aligns with Article 29 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, which grants lawmakers the authority to enact laws.
