President of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, has commended Nigeria as a Big Brother and for its longstanding support to his country through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) Scheme, describing the initiative as a major contributor to human capital development and the advancement of higher education, The Bureau Journal reports.
Barrow gave the commendation during the second combined convocation ceremony of the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in Banjul, where 951 students graduated.
The Gambian leader expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria for deploying skilled professionals who have strengthened critical sectors of the country's economy, particularly education.
Nigeria's Technical Assistance Boosts Higher Education
The convocation ceremony, themed "Innovation for Impact: Science, Skills and Sustainable Development," showcased the growing impact of Nigerian academics serving under the NTAC Scheme in various Gambian tertiary institutions.
President Barrow said Nigeria's technical assistance programme had made a remarkable contribution to the growth of higher education in The Gambia and reaffirmed his country's commitment to sustaining the bilateral partnership.
"Nigeria has continued to play a significant role in our national development through the deployment of highly skilled professionals whose expertise has strengthened our institutions and enhanced human capital development," Barrow stated.
Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Development Cooperation
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, the Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Yusuf Buba Yakub, reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to deepening development cooperation with The Gambia through technical assistance, knowledge transfer and capacity building.
"President Tinubu remains committed to deepening Nigeria's development cooperation with The Gambia through strategic technical assistance, knowledge transfer and human capital development," Yakub said.
He added that Nigeria would continue to deploy qualified professionals to support key sectors and strengthen ties between both countries.
Nigerian Academics Recognised for Outstanding Contributions
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of several Nigerian NTAC volunteers currently occupying strategic leadership positions in Gambian tertiary institutions.
Among them is the Vice-Chancellor of USET, Professor Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde, alongside other senior academics contributing to the transformation of higher education in the country.
Professor Surajudeen-Bakinde commended Nigeria and the NTAC for their sustained support, noting that Nigerian professionals have played a vital role in improving academic standards and institutional development across The Gambia.
951 Students Graduate as NTAC Receives Special Honour
The convocation ceremony saw 951 students awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates across various disciplines, while outstanding graduates received awards for academic excellence.
In recognition of NTAC's contributions to education and capacity building, President Barrow presented a special award to the agency's Director-General, Yusuf Buba Yakub.
The honour underscored the enduring partnership between Nigeria and The Gambia and the impact of technical cooperation in promoting sustainable development across Africa.
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