MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The President of the Liberian National Students Union (LINSU) has defended the organization’s National Academic County Meet, calling for the competition to be institutionalized and held annually despite financial challenges and public criticism.

Speaking at the award ceremony of the 2026 National Academic County Meet, the LINSU President said,” The competition was designed to promote academic excellence, encourage healthy intellectual rivalry among students, and bring young people from Liberia’s 15 counties together”.

He dismissed criticisms suggesting that academic competitions are outdated, arguing that such initiatives remain important in developing students’ knowledge, confidence, and intellectual abilities.

The president compared academic competitions to football, noting that although football has existed for generations, it continues to attract public support because of its ability to unite people.

“If we continue to support football because it brings our people together, what will stop us from having regular academic competitions among young people?” he asked.

According to him, the initiative dates back to 2016, when LINSU organized an earlier competition with support from the Ministry of Education. However, he said the union subsequently struggled to sustain the program, with the competition returning in 2023 before the latest edition in 2026.

The LINSU president attributed the difficulties surrounding the 2026 competition largely to inadequate financial support, explaining that the union was unable to secure a dedicated budget allocation of at least US$100,000.

He said the organization relied on assistance from a limited number of institutions and individuals to bring the competition to completion.

Among the institutions he acknowledged were the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), while he also commended the Minister of Youth and Sports for supporting efforts to keep the initiative alive.

Despite the challenges, the president described the successful completion of the tournament as a significant achievement for the union and its supporters.

He congratulated LINSU’s executive committee, county union leaders, coaches, coordinators, and participating students for their contributions to the competition.

The president also urged future student leaders to preserve the initiative, emphasizing the need to establish a sustainable system that will allow subsequent generations of students to benefit from academic contests.

He further called on stakeholders, including government institutions, lawmakers, private businesses, and other partners, to invest in programs that promote education and youth development.

At the ceremony, Montserrado County was announced as the winner of the 2026 National Academic County Meet and received a prize of US$5,000.

The president said the competition should serve as a foundation for expanding opportunities for students across Liberia, encouraging them to excel academically and contribute to national development.

He maintained that the initiative would continue despite criticism and funding constraints, stressing that academic excellence must remain a priority for the country’s education sector.

At the same time, the President of the Liberian National Students Union (LINSU) has expressed sorrow over the death of a 16-year-old student who participated in the 2026 National Academic County Meet, calling on students, coaches, and members of the public to support the bereaved family.

Speaking during the competition’s award ceremony, the LINSU president described the deceased student, identified in the speech as Lambert, as a promising young mathematician and an active participant in the academic contest.

He said the student’s death occurred shortly before a planned award ceremony, forcing the organizers to confront the loss of a young person who had recently demonstrated his academic abilities.

According to the president, the student had played a significant role in his county’s performance during the competition, particularly in mathematics.

Recounting one of the tournament’s matches, the president said the student helped restore his team’s hopes during a difficult contest against Montserrado County, when the opposing team was reportedly leading by a substantial margin.

He described the student’s determination and contribution as an example of the commitment and competitive spirit the academic tournament seeks to encourage among young people.

The LINSU president said the student’s death was particularly painful because the competition was intended to celebrate young people’s intellectual achievements and create opportunities for students to demonstrate their talents.

He also praised a Montserrado County coach, identified in the speech as Sylvester, for his involvement in supporting the deceased student and his family throughout the period of illness and following his death.

The president said the support demonstrated the kind of solidarity and relationship LINSU hopes to strengthen among students, coaches, and county representatives.

He disclosed that the union and members of the coaching community had faced difficulties in helping to cover the student’s medical expenses.

The LINSU president subsequently appealed to participating teams, coaches, and members of the public to contribute whatever assistance they could to support the bereaved family.

He also called on members of the academic competition community to attend the student’s funeral-related activities and join the family in mourning their loss.

The president said LINSU representatives intended to visit the family in Johnsonville to express condolences and provide support during the difficult period.

While celebrating the achievements of the competition’s participants, he urged students and other stakeholders to remember that academic excellence must be accompanied by compassion, unity, and concern for one another.

The 2026 National Academic County Meet brought students from across Liberia together to compete in academic disciplines, with Montserrado County eventually emerging as champion and receiving US$5,000.

The LINSU president said the union remained committed to promoting academic excellence and strengthening relationships among students across the country.