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MONROVIA, Liberia — The question of who should control and implement social development funds generated by Liberia’s extractive sector took center stage Friday, September 18, 2026, as university students debated competing approaches to ensure that communities affected by mining and other extractive activities benefit from these resources.
The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) brought together students from the United Methodist University (UMU) and the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) for an inter-university debate aimed at putting young voices at the center of discussions on transparency, accountability, and governance in Liberia’s extractive sector.
Jeffery Yates, Head of the LEITI Secretariat, said the initiative was designed to promote inclusive dialogue about funds generated from the extractive sector and encourage young people to participate in conversations about how those resources are managed and used.
At the center of the debate was a fundamental question: Should extractive companies work directly with affected communities to implement social development funds, or should the Central Government take full responsibility for implementation?
The motion generated competing arguments over who is best positioned to ensure that funds intended for communities affected by extractive activities are properly managed and translated into meaningful development.
UMU defended the position that the Central Government should take full charge of implementing the Social Development Fund, arguing its case through presentations focused on the role of centralized oversight and implementation.
AMEU, meanwhile, argued that affected communities and extractive companies should work together directly to implement the funds, putting greater emphasis on community involvement and direct participation in decisions affecting local development.
The debate allowed students to move beyond classroom discussions and engage with a real-world governance issue confronting Liberia’s extractive sector.
The students presented research-based arguments, cited relevant examples, challenged opposing viewpoints, and responded to questions and counterarguments from their opponents. The exchanges reflected the complexity of ensuring that social development resources reach the communities for which they are intended.
For LEITI, the debate was also about giving young people a voice in the governance of Liberia’s natural resources.
Rather than treating extractive-sector governance as an issue reserved for policymakers and industry actors, the initiative created a platform for university students to interrogate how decisions about natural resource revenues affect communities and national development.
The competition was adjudicated by a three-member panel comprising Atty. Tonia Gibson, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Tax Appeals; Mr. Jefferson Togba Massah, Executive Director of the Media Institute of Liberia; and Mr. Emmanuel K. White of LEITI.
The judges assessed the teams using established judging criteria following their presentations and responses.
When the scores were announced, UMU emerged with 98 points, while AMEU finished with 96 points.
The narrow two-point margin underscored how closely contested the competition was, with both teams demonstrating substantial preparation and engagement with the subject.
The result was not simply a competition over points. It reflected a broader effort to encourage students to understand and participate in national conversations about transparency, accountability, community development, and the management of Liberia’s natural resources.
The event concluded with the announcement of the results and the presentation of cash prizes, certificates, and medals to recognize the participating teams.
LEITI commended both universities for taking part in the debate and for contributing to public discussion on issues affecting Liberia’s extractive sector.
The initiative reinforces the importance of creating spaces where young Liberians can question existing approaches, defend competing perspectives, and engage constructively with issues of public interest.
As Liberia continues to grapple with how natural-resource wealth can translate into tangible benefits for affected communities, the debate demonstrated that university students are not merely observers of that conversation; they are increasingly prepared to take part in it.
