-Liberian Senate Passes Act Transforming It To Western Region University
By Jerromie S. Walters
The Liberian Senate on Thursday, February 27, 2025, passed a landmark Act repealing the 2012 legislation that established the Bomi Community College, paving the way for the creation of the Western Region University. This transformative decision was made during the Senate’s 12th day sitting, following a comprehensive report from a joint committee comprising Education, Public Administration, Judiciary Claims and Petitions, and Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget.
The joint committee emphasized that the passage of this bill aligns with Liberia’s national development goals, particularly the government’s ARREST agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). The new Western Region University, to be located in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, will significantly enhance access to advanced education, foster regional development, and contribute to economic growth by producing a skilled workforce tailored to the needs of key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and health.
The upgraded institution will be empowered to grant bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across a wide range of academic and professional fields, marking a significant leap forward in higher education for the region. Additionally, the university will expand educational opportunities for underserved populations in Western Liberia, including youth and women, ensuring broader access to quality education.
Originally established in 2005 and formally enacted in 2012, the Bomi Community College (BCC) has been a cornerstone of higher education in the region, offering Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees in various disciplines. Its transformation into the Western Region University represents a major milestone in Liberia’s educational landscape, elevating it to a full-fledged higher education institution capable of offering undergraduate and professional programs.
The Western Region, comprising Bomi, Gbarpolu, and Grand Cape Mount Counties, is one of Liberia’s most mineral-rich areas and is home to a growing population of approximately 408,567 inhabitants, the majority of whom are young people. The establishment of the Western Region University is expected to drive economic growth, improve educational outcomes, and create opportunities for the region’s youth.
This legislative action by the Senate is in accordance with Article 29 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which grants the legislature the authority to pass all legislation.
A Labd-grant government-supported institution
Bomi Community College (BCC) is a public land-grant government-supported institution of higher learning located in Tubmanburg City, Bomi County.
BCC has been operating as the first community-based college initiative in Liberia since August 2005 and accredited by the National Commission of Higher Education in 2009. BCC was subsequently enacted by an Act of Legislature on September 19, 2012, with a mandate to administer co-educational institutions of teaching, learning, and research within the Western Region of Liberia including Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Rural Montserrado Counties.
BCC offers Associate of Arts degrees in agriculture, business, education, nursing, and criminal justice, and certification in TVET with specialization in masonry, plumbing, and carpentry. BCC also offers a ‘C’ Certificate extension program in teacher-training education in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County. All academic programs and TVET are accredited by the National Commission on Higher Education, Liberian Board of Nursing and Midwifery and other relevant authorities in Liberia.
The institution strives to prioritizepeople’s most urgent needs, empowering lives and promoting quality education and professional development for a large youthful population in the region.
