The Gambian Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, has commended Nigeria for its impactful intervention in the country’s education sector, describing it as a game-changer.
Prof. Gomez made this remark during his visit to the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. He conveyed the appreciation of the Gambian government and President, emphasizing that Nigerian technical assistance—especially the deployment of Engineering Professors—has significantly enhanced higher education in The Gambia.
He noted that the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) has seen remarkable progress since the arrival of Nigerian professors under the NTAC program. Their expertise has transformed skills development, innovation, and enterprise education, leading to a 400% increase in student enrollment, from 47 to over 200 in the last academic year.
Beyond their teaching roles, Prof. Gomez highlighted that Nigerian Technical Aid Corps Volunteers have introduced forward-thinking strategies aimed at reducing universities’ reliance on government subventions. These strategies are fostering self-sustaining initiatives, a crucial step toward educational independence in The Gambia.
Gambia Seeks More Nigerian Support for University of Education
In addition to expressing gratitude, the Gambian delegation formally requested further assistance from Nigeria. Prof. Gomez emphasized that The Gambia is establishing a new University of Education and is looking to Nigeria for support in making it a center of excellence.
“Today, we are here again to request the help of our big brother, Nigeria,” he said.
“Your Volunteers have exceeded our expectations in revolutionizing our higher education system. Now, we need your professionals to mentor our educators and administrators, particularly in the field of Education.”
He acknowledged the remarkable contribution of Nigerian Engineering Professors but stressed that The Gambia now seeks expertise in educational development to enhance teaching methodologies and administrative structures.
NTAC DG Pledges Nigeria’s Continued Assistance
Responding to the request, NTAC Director-General, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting The Gambia’s education sector and fulfilling the agency’s mandate of fostering development among African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) nations.
He commended the Gambian government for prioritizing education and hailed Prof. Gomez’s leadership in driving positive reforms in the country’s higher learning institutions. He emphasized that the establishment of the University of Education would significantly contribute to teacher training, research, and academic excellence in The Gambia.
Buba assured that NTAC would immediately initiate the process of deploying Nigerian education experts to The Gambia, stressing that the impact of this collaboration would shape the country’s education sector for decades to come.
Delegations at the Meeting
The Gambian delegation included:
Dr. Alieu B. Senghore – Chairman, University of Education, The Gambia
Mr. Aboubacarr Jallow – Provost, University of Education
Mr. Siaka Saidilzigh – Principal Assistant Secretary, Gambian Ministry of Higher Education
Mr. Babucarr Dumbuya – First Secretary, Gambian High Commission in Abuja
Representing NTAC were:
Amb. Zakari Usman – Director of Programmes
Mr. Lawandy Bala – Special Assistant to the DG on Protocol Matters
Other senior officials of the agency
About NTAC
Established in 1987, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has deployed over 10,000 Nigerian professionals to more than 40 ACP countries, supporting critical sectors like education, health, and infrastructure development.
