Born into hardship, Yankuba lost his mother in infancy and his father at the tender age of 10. What could have broken many instead forged an unbreakable will. Raised by his maternal family, who ensured he stayed in school, Yankuba began his education at Little Brown Nursery School, progressing through Essau Primary School, St. John Vianney’s Basic Cycle School in Foni Bullock, and finally Essau Senior Secondary School.
In 2009, he achieved one of the top West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results in the North Bank Region—a spark that ignited his passion for journalism and media, inspired by the legendary broadcaster Kebba Dibba of Gambia Radio and Television Services.
Like so many talented young people from modest rural backgrounds, university wasn’t immediately within reach. Yankuba first completed a certificate in Microsoft at Gambia Technical Training Institute, then earned a Higher Teachers’ Certificate (now Advanced Diploma) in English Language and Social and Environmental Studies at Gambia College School of Education in 2013. Living on a modest monthly student stipend of D500, he covered rent, food, and all essentials through sheer resourcefulness and discipline.
After three years of teaching English in public and private schools, he advanced to the University of The Gambia (UTG) in 2016, where he majored in English Language with a minor in Public Administration. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a CGPA of 3.90—while self-funding his tuition through work, balancing academics with leadership roles. He served as Assistant Welfare Minister and 9th President of the Education Students Association (EDUSA), and later as the 18th Secretary General of the University of The Gambia Students Union.
Professionally, Yankuba gained experience at the Constitutional Review Commission, Gambia Pilot Program, and as Media and Communications Officer at Gambia Ports Authority. Driven by a dream to master public relations and media in a global hub, he set his sights on New York—home to iconic outlets like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Post.
Arriving in August 2023, he began a Master’s in Public Relations and Image Management at Hofstra University on Long Island, supported by a Graduate Assistantship. But when his employer reneged on promised tuition support, Yankuba faced a crushing setback. Undeterred—like a dolphin refusing to sink—he pivoted. He reapplied, paid the evaluation and application fees out of pocket, and transferred to the City University of New York’s Queens College, one of America’s oldest public universities.
Starting in Spring 2024, he pursued an MA in Media Studies as a self-sponsored international student. Each semester demanded over $7,900 in tuition (excluding his final research term), plus living expenses. Through relentless hard work—balancing jobs, studies, and survival—he excelled. His outstanding first-semester performance earned a 50% scholarship from the Department of Media Studies, helping cover a total tuition burden of approximately $27,000.
In December 2025, Yankuba graduated Summa Cum Laude with a perfect CGPA of 4.00 out of 4.3. His thesis, “Reclaiming African Information Sovereignty Amid Geopolitical Shifts in the Sahel,” with a case study on Mali, earned an A+ (Distinction). Supervised by renowned professors Shinjoung Yeo and Richard Maxwell—experts in the political economy of media—the defense impressed a panel of three graduate faculty members and fellow MA students.
Remarkably, throughout his entire academic path—from high school to this master’s triumph—Yankuba has never attended a graduation ceremony or worn the traditional gown and mortarboard. For him, these symbols pale beside true substance: the rigor of learning, the certificates earned through sweat, and the professional impact that will endure. He views his diplomas as cherished heirlooms for future generations, while his real legacy lies in his work and character.
Yankuba Manneh’s story shatters the myth that success belongs only to the privileged. Orphaned young, from a rural village with limited resources, facing financial betrayals and institutional hurdles, he rose through discipline, perseverance, integrity, and courage. He proves that destiny is not dictated by family status, poverty, or setbacks—but shaped by those who refuse to surrender.
A heartfelt congratulations to Yankuba Manneh, TAT news editor and now a distinguished MA graduate: your journey inspires every child dreaming beyond their circumstances that with heart and hustle, the impossible becomes reality. The world is brighter because you never stopped swimming forward.
