Gambia Welcomes 20 Nigerian Academics to Boost Higher Education
Group Photo © Askanwi
By Fatoumata Jaiteh
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has officially welcomed a delegation of 20 academic professionals from Nigeria under the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) programme. The deployment ceremony was held on Monday, 4 August 2025, at the Nigerian High Commission in Kanifing.
The team, made up of professors and lecturers, will serve in leading tertiary and higher education institutions across The Gambia, including the University of The Gambia (UTG), the University of Education, The Gambia (UEG), the Civil Service University (CSU), and the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA).
Arriving in the country on Saturday, 2 August, the volunteers will spend the next two years providing technical expertise and professional support to strengthen the academic and institutional capacities of Gambian higher education.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, highlighted the importance of the partnership.
“This initiative is a testament to the enduring bonds of solidarity and cooperation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of The Gambia,” he said. “Their roles in leadership, technical assistance, and knowledge transfer will undoubtedly elevate the quality of education and institutional governance in our country.”
High Table © Askanwi
He urged the Nigerian academics to uphold professionalism, innovation, and dedication in advancing The Gambia’s Higher Education Transformation Agenda.
The deployment is part of Nigeria’s longstanding Technical Aid Corps initiative, launched in 1987 to support African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries with skilled manpower.
Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires to The Gambia, His Excellency Muhammad Usman Mainsara, noted that more than 500 Nigerian professionals have served in The Gambia under the NTAC programme since bilateral cooperation began in 2009.
“When Nigeria sends volunteers, it sends some of its best,” Mainsara said. “It is also important to note that Nigeria covers all costs associated with their service, including travel, settlement, and offshore allowances.”
He encouraged Gambians to view the volunteers not as competitors but as partners in development, working towards a shared vision, and urged the NTAC team to continue strengthening the brotherly ties between the two nations.
The ceremony was attended by senior MoHERST officials and representatives from various Gambian higher education institutions.
