By: Emmanuel Ballah
BONG COUNTY – Bong County Technical College President, Dr. Alfredson Taikerweyah, has welcomed the submission of a bill by Representative Robert Womba seeking to elevate the college to university status.
Speaking on Radio Gbarnga, a community radio station in Gbarnga, on Friday, Dr. Taikerweyah asserted that the transition would yield numerous benefits, including the introduction of new academic programs, increased enrollment, and the establishment of professional conferences to support the publication of research, among other prospects.
According to Dr. Taikerweyah, the college’s current status limits its ability to offer certain programs.
“As a college, we have limited opportunities,” he stated.
He continued, “When the college is elevated to a university, we will have the opportunity to administer diverse programs for the benefit of the Liberian people.”
The BCTC president emphasized the institution’s readiness for university status, noting that it possesses the technical, academic, and logistical capacity to operate at that level.
“I think we are capable. We have the technical staff, facilities that can accommodate up to three thousand students at a time, and qualified candidates,” Dr. Taikerweyah added.
He noted that the college was recently accredited by the National Commission on Higher Education to offer degrees in Business and Public Administration, highlighting its capacity and potential.
Dr. Taikerweyah is urging members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to support the bill, aiming to broaden the range of programs offered at BCTC.
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Representative Robert Womba of Bong’s 4th electoral district—who also serves on BCTC’s board of trustees—submitted a bill to the House of Representatives to repeal the act that established Bong County Technical College and, in its place, create Bong County University.
According to Rep. Womba, if passed, the bill would provide a convenient platform for thousands of youths in need of higher education in north-central Liberia.
He expressed optimism about the bill’s passage, noting that his colleagues in the legislature have already shown strong support for the initiative.
