By Yunus S. Saliu and Isatou Sarr
Gambian President Adama Barrow on Saturday officially inaugurated Lot 2 of the University of The Gambia (UTG) Faraba Banta Campus, describing the expansion as a milestone in the country’s commitment to education and national transformation.
Speaking at the ceremony in Faraba Banta, President Barrow said the new facilities reflect The Gambia’s determination to invest in human capital and position the country as a potential hub of academic excellence in West Africa.
“This campus stands as a testament to our belief that knowledge drives national development,” he said, noting that the inauguration celebrated not only infrastructure but also vision, partnerships, and progress.
Lot 2 houses the School of Business and Public Administration, the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, and the School of Information, Communication, and Technology. The schools are equipped with modern lecture halls, computer laboratories, and the Mother Alendufe Memorial Library.
The President also commissioned additional facilities, including the Akinwumi Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the Faculty of Law, and the Chancery Building. The agriculture complex features 14 laboratories designed to promote innovation in food security, ecological sustainability, and climate resilience.
He noted that the Faculty of Law would enhance legal training, strengthen the rule of law, and promote human rights. The new infrastructure, he said, moves UTG closer to becoming a fully residential, research-oriented university capable of hosting thousands of students and scholars.
Looking ahead, President Barrow announced that the foundation stone for Block 3, which will accommodate the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, would be laid immediately after the inauguration. The complex will include facilities for medicine, nursing, public health, pharmacy, and biomedical sciences, supported by 16 advanced laboratories and teaching clinics.
“When completed, this school is expected to transform medical education and health research in The Gambia and strengthen the national health system,” he said.
The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to excellence, access, and governance in higher education. He urged students to approach their studies with discipline and purpose, using their knowledge to contribute to their communities and address national and global challenges.
He highlighted government initiatives, including the student revolving loan scheme, the Tertiary and Higher Education Trust Fund, and the National Research and Innovation Fund, aimed at expanding access to education and research.
President Barrow commended the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, UTG Governing Council, management, consultants, contractors, regional authorities, and host communities. He also thanked development partners, particularly the Islamic Development Bank and BADEA, for their financial and technical support.
UTG Vice Chancellor Professor Herbert Robinson said the expansion would significantly strengthen the university’s teaching and research capacity, particularly in agriculture and environmental sciences. He noted that modern laboratories would enable UTG to contribute directly to national priorities such as food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture.
“These facilities are incubators of solutions to our national challenges,” Prof. Robinson said, pledging that UTG would fully utilise them through innovative teaching, research, and community engagement to produce graduates equipped to drive national progress.
Speaking on behalf of development partners, Abdullah Al Musibae, President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), described the project as a product of effective cooperation between The Gambia and its partners. He said the new faculties would help meet the growing demand for higher education and specialised skills while supporting people-centred development.
Similarly, Umar Davies, Country Representative of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), described the Faraba Banta Campus as a catalyst for a new era in higher education for The Gambia and the wider West African region, driven by excellence, innovation, and inclusive growth.
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