Education
Nigeria-Gambia Relations Assume New Levels as NTAC Volunteers Set for Headship of Gambian University
Committee Winds up Activities with the Selection of 4 Volunteer- Professors for Diverse Positions in the University’s Administration;_
*_Higher Education Ministry in The Gambia Requests Endorsement by Nigerians of Selected Professors.
Four Nigerian Professors with Engineering backgrounds are set to take on key positions at the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in The Gambia.
This development follows the submission of a Report by a Taskforce set up by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and the Governing Council of USET.
The Ministry has requested endorsement from Nigerians for their appointment.
The Volunteer- Professors were selected after a thorough process, following openings created by the imminent end of the tenure of the current Vice Chancellor of the University ,Prof.Samuel Owusu-Ofori,whose tenure comes to an end on September 30 this year.
The Professors and their positions include:
i.Vice Chancellor – *Nazmat Surajudeen- Bakinde*;
ii. Vice Chancellor (Academics)- *Prof.Ado Yusuf Abdulfatah* ;
iii.Director, Research and Grants- *Prof. Akinlabi Oyetunji* as well as
iv.Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance- *Prof.David Terfa Gundu*.
The deployment of this crop of Volunteers by NTAC to The Gambia earlier in the year as part of the 24-month Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps scheme,was aimed to provide technical assistance to that country.
The current move by the Gambian authorities remains significant, as it highlights the strong partnership between the country and Nigeria in the areas of education and technical co-operation.
It will be recalled that The Gambia remains one of the first and highest country-subscribers to the TAC Scheme and has at the last count received over 12,000 Nigerians as Volunteers, including Engineers,Lawyers and Medical Professionals since the establishment of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps in 1987.
*Nkem Anyata-Lafia*
Special Assistant to the DG, NTAC, on Media and Publicity
*Friday, September 27,2024*