By Assan Bah
Officials of the University of Gambia (UTG) Governing Council on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, met and held talks with President Barrow, Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, and updated him on their level of preparedness ahead of the 16th Convocation ceremony of the said institution scheduled for Sunday, 21 April 2024.
The graduation ceremony regarded as one of the most important events in the academic journey of a student is annually organised to recognise and celebrate the academic strides of graduating students.
The briefing, which was held at the presidency, was attended by the Chairperson of the Governing Council, the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar, among other senior officials of the UTG.
This year’s convocation, according to the Council, is set to witness the conferring of Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to more than one thousand students from the Schools of Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Information and Communication Technology and Journalism among others.
In a statement from the Presidency, the briefing also discussed the University’s progress over the years, because members of the Council reported that for the first time in the history of The Gambia, the UTG will be awarding Bachelor’s Degrees to ten civil engineering students who have completed their studies.
On his part, the President expressed delight on the improvements taking place at the University and commended Mr. Matthew P. Ndure on behalf of the Governing Council, for being part of the transformation process at the UTG, and the significant development of having a permanent home for students on campus. President Barrow highlighted his Government’s commitment to building capacity through higher education to fill the skills gap in technical areas for national development, and took pride in the newly inaugurated Faraba Banta Campus.
The President further emphasised the importance of education and urged parents to prioritise their children’s education, saying his Government is focused on providing an attractive package to recruit qualified lecturers, and reiterating the call for citizens to pay their taxes so that Government can use the funds wisely to advance the nation.
While assuring the visiting members of the UTG Governing Council of his support for a successful convocation, he disclosed that the education sector remains a top priority for his Government despite a limited operating budget.
During an audience with the press, the Vice Chancellor of UTG, Professor Herbert Robinson, said he looks forward to working with stakeholders to develop the provision of specific programmes within the University curriculum
