-Gambian Committee Winds up Activities with the Selection of 4 Volunteer- Professors for Diverse Positions in the University’s Administration;
By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): Nigeria’s Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen- Bakinde, currently on Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) Volunteer Service in Gambia has been appointed as Vice Chancellor of the country’s University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET).
Also appointed into topmost key positions in the University are three other Nigerian Professors, namely; Prof.Ado Yusuf Abdulfatah (VC Academics), Prof. Akinlabi Oyetunji, (Director, Research and Grants) and Prof.David Terfa Gundu, (Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance).
(Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of The Gambia,Prof.Gomez Pierre,and the DG, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps,Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub)
This was disclosed in a statement by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, the Special Assistant to the DG, NTAC, on Media and Publicity, a copy of which was made a available to Flowerbudnews on Saturday in Abuja.
The four Nigerian Professors with Engineering backgrounds are set to take over the topmost posts in the University from the end of September.
”This development follows the submission of a Report by a Taskforce set up by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and the Governing Council of USET,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, The Gambian Education Ministry had requested endorsement from Nigeria for their appointment.
The letter requesting endorsement, which was addressed to the Nigerian Mission in Kanifing and copied to the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub,was received on Friday in Abuja, Anyata-
”The Volunteer- Professors were selected after a thorough process, following openings created by the imminent end of the tenure of the current Vice Chancellor of the University , Prof.Samuel Owusu-Ofori, whose tenure comes to an end on September 30 this year.
”The deployment of this crop of Volunteers by NTAC to The Gambia earlier in the year as part of the 24-month Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps scheme,was aimed to provide technical assistance to that country.
”The current move by the Gambian authorities remains significant, as it highlights the strong partnership between the country and Nigeria in the areas of education and technical co-operation.
It will be recalled that The Gambia remains one of the first and highest country-subscribers to the TAC Scheme and has at the last count received over 12,000 Nigerians as Volunteers, including Engineers,Lawyers and Medical Professionals since the establishment of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps in 1987.
