Budgit Liberia on Monday donated One Hundred Thousand Liberian Dollars to the Press Union of Liberia to support the purchase of cement for the Union’s long-awaited National Headquarters Project in Sinkor, Monrovia.
The donation, presented by Budgit Liberia Team Lead Abraham Varney, marks the first contribution from a Liberian civil society organization toward the PUL’s headquarters initiative. The move is being hailed as a show of civil society leadership and commitment to media independence.
“We believe that the Press Union must not rely solely on political actors to build its headquarters. If we want an independent media, then we, as civil society, must take the lead in securing that independence,” Varney said, describing the donation as part of Budgit Liberia’s broader commitment to a free press. “This donation is our way of saying that Budgit Liberia stands for a free press, for truth-telling, and for national development driven by transparency and integrity.”
PUL President Julius Kullie Kanubah called the contribution “historic and exemplary,” and urged other organizations and the public to follow Budgit Liberia’s lead. “This is not just a donation; this is a call to action for the civil society community. It is a strong message that the future of independent media in Liberia matters,” Kanubah said.
Kanubah said the donation is symbolic because it comes from a youth-led, Liberian-owned organization known for its work on transparency and inclusion. He added that Budgit Liberia’s gesture shows that civil society groups are not only watchdogs but also builders of institutions that sustain democracy.
The PUL headquarters project, which has stalled in recent years due to funding shortfalls, is planned to include offices, a press center, training rooms and a safe space for media practitioners nationwide. Officials said the cash gift for cement will help accelerate construction and inject new momentum into the effort.
Budgit Liberia is a non-profit civic-tech and advocacy group that focuses on accountable governance, fiscal transparency, and inclusive development. The organization is a member of the Government of Liberia’s Fiscal Transparency Advisory Group and has led initiatives to simplify budget information, promote youth participation, and strengthen public financial management.
Varney urged other civil society organizations, development partners, the private sector and citizens to join the campaign to finance the PUL headquarters. “Let this be the start of a movement — a movement for free, fearless, and independent journalism in Liberia,” he said.
As Liberia prepares for continued civic engagement and governance reforms, both Budgit Liberia and the PUL say the donation underscores the role of civil society in safeguarding independent institutions essential to democracy.
