On 16 January 2006, Ms Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made history as Africa’s first elected female head of state, pledging to rebuild Liberia after years of civil war and restore hope through accountable leadership. Today, as Liberia and the continent marks the anniversary of that landmark inauguration, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) reflects on its high-level delegation to that country to strengthen academic, research and development partnerships. During the visit, the UJ delegation, which was led by Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, met Her Excellency Johnson Sirleaf when they paid a courtesy visit to her. This visit echoed the values of progress, collaboration and African leadership championed by Madam Sirleaf.
Sirleaf’s inauguration on 16 January 2006 was attended by then global leaders, including U.S. First Lady Laura Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and South African President Thabo Mbeki. Her presidency symbolised a new era for Liberia, following a devastating civil war, with commitments to fight corruption, restore electricity and support former combatants as part of the nation’s recovery.
During the visit, the UJ delegation spent the week in Liberia engaging with universities, government ministries and international development partners to expand academic collaboration, research initiatives and exchange programmes. The visit reflected UJ’s commitment to building influential Pan-African networks that advance innovation, knowledge production and long-term development across the continent.
The programme also followed a major academic honour for Prof Mpedi, who received the Doctor of Science (honoris causa) in Artificial Intelligence from Tubman University on Monday, 24 November 2025. The award recognised his leading scholarship on Artificial Intelligence and the Law, as well as his contributions to ethical digital transformation in higher education.
A significant highlight of the visit was a courtesy call to Madam Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Recognised for her leadership in restoring peace, strengthening democratic governance and advancing the rights of women, Madam Sirleaf received the UJ delegation at her residence in Monrovia on Wednesday, 26 November 2025.
Prof Mpedi was accompanied by Tubman University President Prof Olu Q. Menjay and senior UJ leaders Professors Bongani Ngqulunga, Kammila Naidoo and Daniel Mashao. During the engagement, Madam Sirleaf commended the strengthening partnership between UJ and Tubman University and highlighted the critical role of African institutions in creating opportunities for young people and developing resilient education systems that can advance the continent’s progress.
Reflecting on the meeting, Prof Mpedi reaffirmed UJ’s commitment to continental collaboration.
“Our collaboration with Liberia is built on a shared belief that African universities must lead the way in producing knowledge that transforms society. UJ remains committed to partnerships that deepen research excellence, strengthen innovation and expand opportunities for students and scholars across Africa. This visit reinforces our responsibility to help shape a future where African institutions work together and rise together,” he said.
Throughout the visit, the UJ delegation also held discussions with senior Liberian government officials to explore cooperation aligned with national and regional development priorities. These engagements focused on joint research in Artificial Intelligence, digital innovation, governance, education and social justice, as well as student and staff exchanges, co-funded research programmes and philanthropic partnerships.
UJ’s presence in Liberia aligned with its Strategic Plan 2035, which positions the institution as a continental leader in technology-driven education, African knowledge systems and future-focused research. The Monrovia engagements affirm UJ’s approach to internationalisation rooted in African cooperation, inclusion and shared intellectual growth.
Prof Mpedi’s honorary doctorate from Tubman University provided both symbolic and substantive momentum for the strengthened collaboration. The citation, which described him as an “eminent scholar, visionary administrator and compassionate leader,” reflects the alignment between UJ’s institutional values and the aspirations of Liberia’s higher education sector.
As the visit concluded, the UJ delegation consolidated additional pathways for collaboration that support Liberia’s development goals and expand UJ’s role as a catalyst for African research leadership. With the endorsement of Madam Sirleaf and the enthusiasm of Liberian institutions and government leaders, a promising new chapter was opened for the UJ–Liberia partnership.
