In a decisive show of commitment to transforming Gambia’s higher education landscape, the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, led a high-stakes inspection tour of the University of The Gambia (UTG) Faraba Banta Campus on Saturday, October 4. The visit zeroed in on Lot 2 of the ambitious development, underscoring the government’s unyielding drive to deliver a world-class academic facility by year’s end.
Minister Gomez, flanked by senior ministry officials and UTG administrators, toured the bustling construction site, where cranes loomed over skeletal frameworks and workers hustled amid the hum of machinery. The focal point was the cutting-edge Faculty of Law, the expansive School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and the towering seven-storey Chancery building – a multifunctional hub designed to anchor the campus’s administrative nerve center.
Praising the “impressive strides” in craftsmanship, the minister did not mince words on the urgency at hand. “This is not just a building project; it’s the bedrock of our nation’s intellectual future,” Dr. Gomez declared, his voice carrying over the din of activity. He issued a stern directive to the lead contractors, urging an immediate surge in manpower through round-the-clock operations, including mandatory day and night shifts. “Quality cannot be compromised, but neither can delays,” he added, spotlighting the need for flawless finishes, from structural integrity to aesthetic polish, culminating in the swift erection of a comprehensive perimeter fence.
The inspection reaffirmed a pivotal milestone: President Adama Barrow will personally inaugurate these facilities on December 27, 2025 – a deadline etched in stone. “The President’s vision demands excellence on time. We will deliver,” Gomez affirmed, quashing any whispers of slippage amid earlier supply chain hiccups and weather disruptions that had tested the project’s resolve.
This $50 million endeavor, funded through a blend of national budgets and international partnerships, represents more than bricks and mortar. By early 2026, it will orchestrate a seismic shift for UTG, relocating all schools and central administration from the congested Kanifing environs to this sprawling 200-hectare site in Kombo West District. The consolidation promises streamlined operations, enhanced research labs, and eco-friendly designs attuned to The Gambia’s tropical climate – fostering innovation in law, agriculture, and beyond.
For students like third-year law major Fatou Sarr, the stakes feel personal. “We’ve outgrown our current spaces; this campus could redefine how we learn and lead,” she shared from the sidelines, echoing a chorus of anticipation among the university’s students.
