By Ebrima Mbaye
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the University of The Gambia (UTG) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a National Child Rights Centre at the university, a move set to bolster academic leadership, research, and advocacy for children’s rights across The Gambia. The signing took place at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) following a two-day national consultation on child rights, co-hosted by UTG and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, with technical support from UNICEF Greece.
The Child Rights Centre aims to serve as a national hub for generating evidence, promoting academic excellence, and equipping students and faculty to champion child rights. UNICEF Country Representative Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique, delivering the keynote address at the consultation’s closing, hailed the initiative as a pivotal step forward. “These past two days of dialogue, learning, and collaboration have been truly inspiring,” she said. “This MoU formalizes our partnership with UTG to create a center that will drive research, foster academic leadership, and empower advocates and changemakers for children’s rights.”
The initiative aligns with the 2025 Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which urged The Gambia to integrate child rights education at all levels. Ms. Shafique emphasized the center’s role in addressing this call, noting its potential to shape a generation of informed advocates. “This year marks 60 years of UNICEF’s partnership with The Gambia,” she added. “Today’s signing is a proud moment in that legacy, reinforcing our commitment to the nation’s children.”
Professor Kayode Adekeye, UTG’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), expressed pride in the university joining a global network of 31 institutions hosting Child Rights Centres. “We are committed to implementing every aspect of this MoU,” he said. “The knowledge gained from this consultation will not remain static—it will be shared and applied.” Professor Adekeye also announced plans to inaugurate the Child Protection Centre at UTG, with UNICEF playing a central role, and called on the UTG Student Union to embed child rights advocacy in its activities.
Muhammed Ngallan, President of the 23rd Executive Council of the UTG Student Union, echoed this commitment. A participant in the consultation, Ngallan highlighted its impact: “These two days deepened our understanding of child rights, the laws protecting children, and the global operations of Child Rights Centres. As a union, we pledge to collaborate with UTG and UNICEF to ensure the center’s success.”
The MoU comes on the heels of UTG’s recent launch of a Bachelor of Science in Social Work programme, a milestone in strengthening The Gambia’s child protection and social welfare workforce. Partners say the Child Rights Centre will drive transformative research and policy engagement, aligning with national priorities for child-sensitive development. The timing is particularly significant as Africa marks the Day of the African Child, themed “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress since 2010.”
The center is expected to foster youth-driven advocacy and support evidence-based policies to advance children’s rights. By equipping students, academics, and policymakers with the tools to address pressing challenges, the initiative positions The Gambia as a leader in child rights advocacy on the continent. As Ms. Shafique noted, “This partnership is not just about a center—it’s about building a future where every child’s rights are protected and prioritized.”
With this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), UNICEF and UTG have laid a foundation for sustained collaboration, promising a brighter future for Gambian children through education, advocacy, and action.
