After 18 years of distinguished and blemish-free service, Alhaji Sheikh Tejan Nyang has retired as Head of School of the Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG), bringing to a close a remarkable chapter in the nation’s tourism and education landscape. His retirement was formally announced at ITTOG’s 18th graduation ceremony on Saturday, 31 January 2026, held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Senegambia.
The occasion was both celebratory and deeply emotional. As he delivered what would be his final graduation address, tears of joy flowed freely — a fitting reflection of a life devoted to service, discipline, and an unshakeable belief in human potential.
Widely known as Sheikh Tejan Nyang, he is a household name not only within The Gambia’s tourism sector but also across Africa, the Afro-Caribbean, and the United States. Over the years, he has received numerous local and international awards in recognition of his outstanding contribution to tourism development, particularly on the African continent.
Before his tenure at ITTOG, Nyang built an illustrious career at home and abroad. He rose through the ranks to serve as Director of Tourism at The Gambia’s National Tourism Organisation (NTO) and later worked with one of Norway’s largest tour operators. Upon returning home, he continued to serve with distinction, becoming a respected tourism icon and a trusted voice in leadership and advisory roles at national and regional levels.
In his farewell address, Nyang described the ceremony as “not only a graduation and award ceremony, but also a moment of reflection, gratitude, and farewell.” Reflecting on his years as an educator, he referred to the experience as “a university of life,” where he earned “metaphorically triple master’s degrees and triple doctorates — not from textbooks, but from listening carefully to parents’ stories.”
Those stories, he noted, revealed sacrifice and commitment, but also neglect. While many parents are deeply invested in their children’s education, others, he observed, see schooling merely as a pathway to personal gain.
“Schools reinforce values, but parents plant them,” he said. “Schools can teach equations and sharpen talents, but they cannot undo ten years of poor parenting in one term.”
Addressing the theme The Power of Service: Building Communities through Volunteerism, Nyang described volunteerism as “the highest expression of humanity and faith.” On retirement, he challenged conventional thinking: “Retirement is not rest; it is resignation from purpose. What we need is not retirement, but redirection.”
Alhaji Sheikh Tejan Nyang may be stepping down from office, but his legacy continues to move — redirecting generations toward service, responsibility, and purpose.
