BY SHALLON S. GONLOR | shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — Nimba University President Dr. Jessie Noah Mongrue says infrastructure deficits and inadequate funding are crippling the institution’s growth despite a US$1.8 million allocation in the 2026 National Budget.
The university faces overcrowded classrooms, lacks modern buildings, and depends on irregular government support that strains daily operations, Mongrue disclosed during the institution’s 9th Associate and 1st Bachelor’s Convocation at Tubman Hall in Sanniquellie.
“Infrastructure and budget remain our most pressing constraints,” Mongrue said. “Without modern facilities and sustainable funding, it becomes difficult to improve classrooms and introduce new programs that match market demands.”
Liberia’s US$1.249 billion Fiscal Year 2026 Budget prioritizes infrastructure, public service compensation, and debt clearance. While Nimba University’s allocation exceeds some peer institutions, students and local leaders continue lobbying for additional increments to serve the university’s rapidly growing population.
The institution conferred degrees on 235 graduates — 142 male and 93 female — across six colleges: Business and Public Administration; Engineering and Geosciences; Health Sciences; Natural Sciences; Agriculture and Food Sciences; and Education.
Graduate breakdown:
· Bachelor’s degrees: 66 (52 male, 14 female)
· Associate degrees: 169 (90 male, 79 female)
· Technical and Vocational diplomas also awarded
Despite challenges, Mongrue reaffirmed his commitment to academic improvement with support from Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono, who recently intervened with US$12,732.94 to cover unpaid tuition for 183 students after USAID funding halted. Gono also pledged US$2,000 for the university’s Faculty Lunch Project.
The university is constructing a new administrative building, and more than 10 staff members are pursuing PhDs abroad. Faculty have returned from advanced studies in Uganda, Rwanda, and China.
“My aspiration is to establish Nimba University as a distinctive public institution not only within Liberia but on a global scale — a university that remains open to new ideas, creativity, and innovation,” Mongrue said.
With approximately 2,000 students drawn from all 15 Liberian counties, Nimba University continues expanding its regional reach while local leaders coordinate with national stakeholders to secure long-term solutions.
