AIIST Seeks Government Budget Support

By Lewis S. Teh

MONROVIA, October 5, 2026 — AIIST University College has appealed to the National Legislature for budgetary support and a stronger partnership with the Government of Liberia to expand higher education, digital skills training, scholarships and human-capacity development.

Acting President K. Ishmael Vamba said the institution presented its case during an engagement with House Speaker Richard N. Koon and members of the Legislature, arguing that public support for AIIST should be viewed as an investment in Liberia’s human capital.

According to Vamba, the institution is seeking “appropriate budgetary support” that would enable it to expand existing programs and reach more Liberians.

“Our message was simple: we were not merely asking government for money; we were making a case for investment in Liberia’s people,” Vamba said.

He said AIIST presented lawmakers with a record of its existing interventions and outlined how additional government support could help the institution expand its contribution to national development.

Vamba said AIIST has provided tuition-free training to approximately 280 personnel from Liberia’s security and public-service institutions.

He also said the institution participated in a national Digital Transformation initiative that reached more than 10,000 young Liberians and has provided scholarships to more than 75 academically outstanding students.

According to him, AIIST has also provided financial support to about 65 student-athletes.

Vamba said these interventions demonstrate the institution’s efforts to contribute to national development even without the level of government support it is now seeking.

“AIIST is not waiting for government to do everything. AIIST is already helping government do more,” he said.

He argued that transparent and accountable public support could enable the institution to expand programs in higher education, digital skills, technical training, research, scholarships and broader human-capacity development.

“With appropriate, transparent, and accountable public support, we can reach more young Liberians and contribute even more meaningfully to national development,” Vamba said.

He said the institution used its engagement with lawmakers to highlight what it has accomplished, its current interventions and areas where it believes government partnership could increase its impact.

“Today, we made our case. We presented what AIIST has already done, what we are doing, and what more we can do for Liberia,” he added.

The appeal comes as government ministries, agencies and other institutions make funding cases ahead of the national budget process.

However, no indication was provided that the Legislature has approved budgetary support for AIIST.

The institution, which operates under the motto “Learn by Doing It,” says it intends to continue focusing on practical education, technology and skills development while seeking greater collaboration with government.

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