Monrovia, Liberia – August 6, 2025 — The University of Liberia (UL) President, Dr. Layli Maparyan, on Tuesday paid a visit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters in Mamba Point, Monrovia, where she toured the institution’s newly commissioned state-of-the-art environmental laboratory.
The visit marked a step toward strengthening collaboration between Liberia’s leading academic institution and the country’s foremost environmental authority.
The laboratory, dedicated on July 23, 2025, by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, has been hailed as one of the most advanced public environmental facilities in Liberia. Built at a cost of several hundred thousand U.S. dollars, the lab represents a major milestone in the nation’s fight against pollution, climate change, and environmental degradation.
EPA Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, who welcomed Dr. Maparyan, praised the growing partnership between the EPA and UL while drawing attention to the urgent need for marine science development in Liberia.
“Liberia is a marine country. Our ocean territory is vast and full of potential, yet we are critically undercapacitated in marine science,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “It is rare to find students pursuing this field in Liberia, and that is something we must change.”
He explained that the facility was designed not just for the EPA, but as a national resource to support institutions, researchers, and students. The laboratory is equipped to conduct air and water quality testing, soil analysis, and hazardous material detection, with plans to expand into marine ecosystem research.
Dr. Yarkpawolo further disclosed that the EPA has secured a partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) laboratory in Monaco. The collaboration will provide advanced equipment and training to bolster the lab’s operations and establish it as a center of excellence in West Africa.
“This partnership with the IAEA will help us build a true center of excellence right here in Liberia,” he said. “Our students, researchers, and environmental professionals deserve access to world-class resources.”
In addition, the EPA, with support from NOVASPHERE—an NGO backed by the Canadian government’s Climate Support Program—has already established a functional Climate Change Laboratory at the University of Liberia.
During the tour, Dr. Maparyan commended the EPA for its achievements and underscored the importance of exposing students to real-world career opportunities early in their academic journey.
“We are about to welcome a new class of freshmen at the University of Liberia. And it’s not just about coming to school—it’s about understanding the trajectory of a career,” she remarked. “I want students to walk in with purpose, and part of that requires exposure to institutions like the EPA.”
She revealed that UL is working to build faculty capacity abroad in environmental and marine science, ensuring trained professionals return to strengthen academic programs at home.
“This facility can be a spark,” Dr. Maparyan said. “I see opportunities for our students to intern, for our professors to collaborate, and for our research to go beyond the classroom.”
The new EPA laboratory now ranks among the country’s best-equipped, capable of conducting complex analyses on water quality, soil contamination, air pollutants, and marine biodiversity.
Both the EPA and UL leadership expressed plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their partnership. The MoU would include provisions for student internships, joint research initiatives, curriculum development, and faculty training exchanges.
