The Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, has expressed deep gratitude to Nigeria for its significant contributions to the education sector in his country. Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) in Abuja on Wednesday, Professor Gomez highlighted the transformative impact of Nigerian professors on higher education in The Gambia.
He noted that the expertise of Nigerian educators has greatly enhanced skills development, innovation, and enterprise growth in The Gambia. Specifically, the deployment of Nigerian engineering professors to the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) has led to a remarkable increase in student enrollment, from 47 to over 200 in the last academic session.
Professor Gomez also praised the professional competence of NTAC volunteers, who have introduced self-funding initiatives for universities that previously relied solely on government subventions. He announced plans to establish a new University of Education in The Gambia and revealed that the country is seeking Nigeria’s support to make it a center of excellence.
“Universities should be institutions of high standards, and Nigeria’s experience in higher education development makes it a valuable partner in this endeavor,” he said.
In response, the Director General of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting The Gambia’s education sector. He emphasized that the NTAC program was designed to bridge expertise gaps among African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) nations. Buba commended Professor Gomez for his dedication to advancing higher education in The Gambia and assured him that Nigeria would promptly begin the process of providing the requested assistance.
This partnership underscores the importance of regional cooperation in fostering knowledge and development across Africa. As Nigeria continues to play a pivotal role in shaping education on the continent, the question remains: how can African nations sustain such collaborations to ensure long-term benefits for their education sectors?
