Nigerian Professors appointed to leadership roles in Gambian varsity

The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has announced the appointment of four Nigerian professors to prominent leadership positions at the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in The Gambia.

This significant development was shared by NTAC’s Director-General, Dr. Yusuf Yakub, during a courtesy visit from The Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Prof. Gomez Pierre, in Abuja.

Dr. Yakub noted that the remarkable expertise of the appointed professors, who are volunteers with the Technical Aid Corps (TAC), prompted the establishment of a task force by the Gambian ministry’s Governing Council.

This task force was responsible for evaluating current TAC volunteers and submitted a report that led to their appointments to strategic roles within USET.

“The task force report indicates that the Gambian ministry has formally requested endorsement from Nigerian authorities for these appointments,” Yakub stated.

The request was officially addressed to the Nigerian Mission in Kanifing and was received in Abuja on Friday.

The appointed professors and their respective positions are:

– Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde – Vice-Chancellor

– Prof. Yusuf Abdulfatah – Vice-Chancellor (Academics)

– Prof. Akinlabi Oyetunji – Director, Research and Grants

– Prof. David Gundu – Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance

Yakub highlighted that the deployment of these professors earlier this year was part of NTAC’s 24-month technical assistance scheme to The Gambia.

He emphasized that this move reflects the strong partnership between Nigeria and The Gambia, particularly in education and technical cooperation.

Since the inception of the TAC program in 1987, The Gambia has welcomed over 12,000 Nigerian volunteers, including professionals in fields such as engineering, law, and medicine, showcasing the enduring collaboration between the two nations.