President Joseph N. Boakai has deepened his administration’s development drive with a strategic financial and institutional partnership with Eric W. Wowoh, founder of Change Agent Network University (CAN-U), injecting fresh momentum into higher education, agriculture, and youth empowerment in northern Liberia.
In a decisive show of commitment, the President disbursed US$15,000 to the institution, US$5,000 to accelerate completion of its Administrative Building, and US$10,000 to install a solar energy system. The move is expected to improve academic operations and campus life to a greater extent.
“We are committed to the long-term agreement to support this institution because of its importance to the people it serves,” President Boakai said. A Strategic Vision for National Transformation, the partnership positions CAN University as a rising hub for opportunity in Lofa County, with the President outlining plans for international collaboration with a university in Arizona, USA, aimed at strengthening academic capacity and professional training.
Boakai also emphasized expanding technical and vocational education in the region, an approach aligned with his broader national agenda to drive inclusive growth and workforce development. Built by the people, backed by the Diaspora, CAN University’s story reflects a uniquely Liberian model of collective nation-building. The land for the campus was donated by residents of Fissibu Town, Zorzor District, and underscores grassroots commitment to education.
Also, more than 80 percent of the university’s funding has come from external support, including Liberians in the diaspora and international partners, while local communities have contributed labor and resources, reinforcing a powerful alliance between Liberians at home and abroad.
Beyond immediate funding, President Boakai pledged to deliver a modern water system with full plumbing, ensuring safe water access across the campus, an essential step toward long-term institutional sustainability. At the heart of the partnership is the Genesis Farm Project, a 150-acre agricultural initiative in Wozi Town, Zorzor District, spearheaded by Wowoh.
The farm is expected to serve as a national model for food security and agricultural innovation. Moreover, the President has called for soil testing to guide crop selection, signaling a data-driven approach to maximize productivity and impact.
