Nigeria’s services to the Education sector through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) program have been recognised by the Republic of Gambia. In order to thank Nigeria for its assistance, Professor Pierre Gomez, the Gambian Minister of Higher Education, travelled to Abuja. He emphasised how the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in the Gambia has greatly benefited from the presence of Nigerian engineering professors deployed under NTAC. In the most recent academic term, their efforts resulted in an increase in student enrolment from 47 to over 200.
To lessen universities’ need on government money, the professors are implementing self-funding projects in addition to enhancing technical education. Because of the effectiveness of this partnership, the Gambian government is currently looking for more Nigerian experts to mentor officials and teachers, especially in the sector of education. Nigeria’s dedication to supporting Gambia’s education sector was reiterated by Buba Yakubu, the Director General of NTAC, in response. He underlined that NTAC’s goal is to help countries in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Africa close educational inequalities.
Many institutions had financial limitations that limited their ability.
Yakubu further affirmed that Nigeria would provide the required aid and commended Gambia’s advancements in higher education. He projected that the efforts made today would have a favourable influence on the Gambia’s Educational System for the ensuing twenty years. In order to share its professional human resources with other African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) nations, Nigeria formed the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC). Since its founding, NTAC has sent experts from a range of fields, including as engineering, healthcare, and education, to support development initiatives in these countries.
With the goal of reducing recipient nations’ reliance on foreign aid by strengthening their domestic capabilities, this project demonstrates Nigeria’s dedication to promoting regional cooperation and capacity building. The encouragement of self-funding projects in African colleges is a noteworthy component of NTAC’s aim. Many institutions, which were historically dependent on government subsidies, had financial limitations that limited their ability to develop and function independently. In response, Nigerian academics implemented methods to diversify their sources of revenue, including creating endowment funds, collaborating with the private sector, and creating business initiatives connected to the results of university research.
Testimonials from USET community demonstrate the impact of these efforts.
Nigerian academic volunteers have played a crucial role in the implementation of self-funding initiatives at the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) in The Gambia. By using the university’s experience to provide professional training and advisory services to businesses and governmental organisations, they have started offering consulting services. The university’s financial base and research capacities have also been strengthened by the establishment of partnerships with foreign organisations to Finance research projects. NTAC has contributed much over the years. A considerable portion of the more than 1,200 Nigerian professionals who have worked in The Gambia in a variety of roles as of 2024 are employed in the education sector.
Approximately 60% of the academic staff at USET are Nigerian volunteers, and throughout the last five years, the number of students enrolled in STEM programs has increased by 35%. Testimonials from members of the USET community demonstrate the impact of these efforts. “Our learning experience has been completely changed by the presence of Nigerian professors,” said a Gambian student. Their commitment to excellence and creative teaching strategies have stoked our enthusiasm for science and technology. In a like vein, a professor said, “Collaborating with Nigerian colleagues has broadened our research horizons and opened doors to international partnerships we hadn’t envisioned before.”
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Additionally, Nigeria has promised further aid to The Gambia’s education system as a sign of its ongoing support. With an emphasis on digital education and e-learning platforms to reach remote locations, plans are in motion to expand the NTAC program. A collaborative research centre devoted to sustainable technologies is also being proposed at USET, which would act as a centre for Innovation and capacity building for academics from both Nigeria and the Gambia. With these coordinated efforts, NTAC is a prime example of Nigeria’s contribution to African development, not just by offering immediate knowledge but also by encouraging partner countries’ long-term institutional development and independence.