Banjul, 28th April 2025: His Excellency Adama Barrow, President of the Republic and Chancellor of the University of The Gambia (UTG) on Saturday, April 26th presided over the 17th graduation ceremony of the UTG at the Fartaba Banta Campus, in Kombo East, West Coast Region.
In his address, the Chancellor congratulated the graduating class and their parents, families, and well-wishers on the successes registered by the graduands. He advised that as they step outside the UTG grounds, they remember that they are the architects of The Gambia’s future.
“Do not carry your certificates into the world of work merely as moral boosters; rather, with them, proudly discharge your much-expected responsibility of innovating, creating, and leading. The challenges of unemployment and migration are truly daunting, but your potential is limitless and able to transform any challenge into an opening for success and progress,” he remarked.
Commenting on the theme of the occasion, ‘Reorienting Our Tertiary and Higher Education Landscape to Empower the Youth with Employability and Entrepreneurship Skills’, the President said it resonates deeply with the national development agenda.
“Globally, youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge. In 2024, for instance, twenty-five percent (25%) of young unemployed persons were reported to have been part of the driving force behind irregular migration, with their potential untapped for productive engagement”.
President Barrow however said The Gambia is now reversing the trend effectively, especially through the Recovery-focused National Development Plan - YIRIWA (2023-2027) and the Gambia TVET Policy (2021–2030) - in which they are gradually bridging the gap between education and employment.
“We are ensuring that our graduates are not dependent job seekers but productive, dependable, and independent job creators”.
He went on to highlight few recent “ground-breaking developments” within the tertiary and higher education sector.
“One is the completion of the Mansa Konko Multi-purpose Skills Centre, and another is the near completion of the Multi-purpose Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centre of Excellence in Wassu, Central River Region (CRR) North.
“A centre of excellence for agri-business in Pacharr, CRR South, and a similar Fisheries and Aquaculture centre will soon be constructed in Tujereng.
In addition, the contracts to renovate Julangel TVET Centre have been signed for works to commence shortly”.
The President revealed that his government has also initiated discussions with Chinese counterparts, through the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in The Gambia, for the establishment of a Luban Workshop, aimed to provide hands-on training in areas of high demand, such as renewable energy, agricultural technology, and digital manufacturing.
He revealed that his cabinet has approved the integration of Madrassah education into mainstream tertiary and higher education, with emphasis on TVET and STEM; to ensure that no Gambian youth is left behind.
Some other developments, the President highlighted, were the recently launched first-ever Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Fund, and the Graduate Employment Scheme.
