BudgIT Liberia Donates L$100,000 To PUL Headquarters Project

By Amos Harris

MONROVIA, Liberia – BudgIT Liberia, a youth-led civil society organization, has contributed L$100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Liberian Dollars) to the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), offering a major boost to the Union’s long-awaited headquarters construction project in Sinkor, Monrovia.

The donation, specifically earmarked for the purchase of cement, marks the first contribution from a Liberian civil society organization (CSO) toward the headquarters—a project that has faced years of financial delays.

Presenting the check at the PUL’s 9th Street office on September 29, 2025, Abraham Varney, Team Lead of BudgIT Liberia, stated that the contribution underscores his organization’s commitment to media freedom and institutional independence.

“The Press Union must not rely only on political actors to realize this project,” Varney asserted. “If we want a free and independent media, then civil society must lead the way. This headquarters is more than a structure; it symbolizes the Union’s autonomy and integrity. Democracy is weakened when the media is dependent on politics for survival.”

Varney further called on other CSOs, the private sector, and the general public to join in supporting the initiative, emphasizing that a vibrant and independent press is essential for Liberia’s democratic growth.

Receiving the donation, PUL President Julius Kullie Kanubah hailed the gesture as “historic and exemplary,” describing it as far more than just financial support.

“This is a call to action. BudgIT Liberia has demonstrated that CSOs are not only watchdogs, but also nation-builders. Today, they are helping build the future of Liberian journalism,” Kanubah said. He noted that the completed headquarters will include administrative offices, a press center, training facilities, and serve as a crucial safe space for Liberian journalists.

BudgIT Liberia is a non-profit civic-tech and advocacy group that focuses on promoting accountable governance, fiscal transparency, and citizen participation. The organization is also a member of the Government of Liberia’s Fiscal Transparency Advisory Group. By becoming the first CSO to fund the PUL headquarters project, BudgIT Liberia has positioned itself as a leading advocate for press freedom in Liberia.