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 Gambia’s 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 letter requesting endorsement, addressed to the Nigerian Mission in Kanifing and copied to the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, was received on Friday, 27 September, 2024, in Abuja.
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:
Vice Chancellor – Nazmat Surajudeen- Bakinde; Vice Chancellor (Academics)- Prof. Ado Yusuf Abdulfatah; Director, Research and Grants- Prof. Akinlabi Oyetunji; as well as Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance- Prof. David Terfa Gundu.
According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the DG, NTAC, on Media and Publicity, Nkem Anyata-Lafia made available to the media on Saturday, 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 statement added that 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.
