Liberian Elected All-African Students Union President
Varney Alieu Jarsey.
Varney Alieu Jarsey, a former national student leader of Liberia has been elected the President of the All-African Students Union (AASU), the continental organization founded in 1972 to champion the interest of African students, at its 13th Elective Congress held in Kibi, Ghana between 20th and 22nd December 2021.
The congress was attended by 38 countries in Africa, 19 in attendance physically and the rest joining virtually.
Varney was declared a winner by the Electoral Commission of AASU and sworn in after beating his competitor, Osisiogu Osikenyi Igwe, from Nigeria.
Delegates at the Congress believed Varney presented a more feasible and potent manifesto than his opponent. Others also felt he is more experienced in continental leadership and could best serve the interest of African students.
Varney is an astute student leader and a committed pan Africanist who has continually championed the interest of youths and students in Liberia and the African continent.
He is the former President of the Liberia National Students’ Union (LINSU) and the immediate past Vice President of the West African Region of the AASU.
In his position as Vice President of the West African Region of the AASU, he was instrumental in the ASYS Planning Committee which organized AASU’s highly successful 7th Africa Students and Youth Summit between 24th and 28th July 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda.
He was instrumental in the planning and execution of the 100 Million Campaign, which led to a drastic increase in the number of girls in school and a significant reduction in the incidence of child labour in the West African region.
In 2018 as President of the Liberia National Students Union, Varney Jarsey was awarded the most famous student Advocate of the Republic of Liberia during the esteemed National Youth Awards ceremony, after previously winning in 2014 the All-African Students Union (AASU) Best Student Advocate Continental Award.
Under his leadership, the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) won the prestigious AASU award as the Most Vibrant Student Union on the continent of Africa.
Under his leadership in 2016 as president of the Liberia National Student Union LINSU, he hosted what is believed to be the biggest academic challenge tournament in the republic of Liberia name and styled, The National county meet Quizzimg tournament under the theme “Rejuvenating the spirit of academic excellence in Liberia”
Throughout his tenure as president of the Liberia National Student Union LINSU, Varney Jarsey provided hundreds of travelling opportunities for Liberian students through seminars, conferences, scholarships including youth and student’s exchanges.
Comrade Varney Alieu Jarsey as he is affectionally called by student leaders across the continent, organized many youths and student-related programs, lecture series and debates which afforded young people the space and opportunity to debate issues of social, economic and political wellbeing of Liberia and Africans in the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
Jarsey during his victory speech hinted at his readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders across the continent to ensure the African dream is achieved through AASU. He called on all National Student Unions on the continent to join him and his Executive Committee to propel AASU to excellence and global admission.
‘’I am focused on serving the African students and youths to the best of my capabilities” he said.
The AASU president further extended his sincere appreciation to Students of Africa that supported him through their Unions and pledged his commitment to champion the interest of the African student through advocacy and diplomatic relations.