By Ebrima Mbaye
In a ringing endorsement of local ingenuity, Professor Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, has congratulated final-year University of The Gambia (UTG) Computer Science student Ebrima Mbye for developing MyExamMate, a free digital platform born from a personal academic setback.
The minister’s comments came during an appearance on The Final Take with MK Marenah on The Alkamba Times, just days after Mbye’s innovation gained widespread attention. Mbye created MyExamMate—a tool that delivers personalized, automatically updated exam schedules and timely reminders—after he missed an exam because he relied on an outdated university timetable.
Prof. Gomez hailed the project as a powerful example of what Gambian graduates can achieve when given encouragement and a supportive environment. “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate Ebrima Mbye. This is a clear demonstration that our graduates can excel. They can do better. They just need to be encouraged and be in a conducive environment,” the minister stated.
He placed Mbye’s accomplishment within a larger context of UTG alumni contributions, pointing to their critical role during the COVID-19 crisis. “Some of the staff I was doing online lectures with were UTG graduates—some with just a BSc, others master’s degree holders. Nothing extraordinary, but within months, we were able to run online classes successfully,” Gomez recalled. He described Mbye as part of a growing tradition of homegrown professionals eager to advance STEM fields and compete globally.
The minister also highlighted available institutional support for such initiatives, specifically the Tertiary and Higher Education Fund. “We need more Mbyes and others. This fund is there to support people like Ebrima. They can write their proposals, and if they meet the requirements, they will be given support so that they can do more and harness what they are doing,” he explained.
Mbye’s story underscores how individual challenges in the education system can spark practical, technology-driven solutions benefiting the wider student community. MyExamMate has quickly emerged as a symbol of proactive innovation among young Gambians, addressing real administrative gaps in tertiary scheduling and helping prevent similar mishaps for peers.
Prof. Gomez’s public praise signals growing official recognition—and potential backing—for student-led tech projects that tackle everyday problems in higher education. As calls for more homegrown digital tools intensify, Mbye’s platform stands out as an inspiring case of turning frustration into forward-thinking progress.
