By: Momodou S Gagigo
President Adama Barrow today commissioned Phase Two (Lot 2) of the University of The Gambia (UTG) Faraba Banta Campus, marking a landmark achievement in the country’s drive to expand and modernise higher education. The ceremony also saw the President lay the foundation stone for Phase Three (Lot 3), which will house a state-of-the-art School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences.
The newly inaugurated facilities include the Akinwumi Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the Faculty of Law, and the Chancery Building. The agriculture school is equipped with fourteen advanced laboratories designed to spearhead research in food security, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability. The Faculty of Law features a modern moot court to provide practical training that will strengthen legal education and promote justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
Speaking at the event, President Barrow described the campus as the realisation of a decades-long national dream. “For decades, Gambians dreamt of a national university campus equipped with the facilities needed to advance higher learning and training endeavours,” he said. “That dream is becoming a reality here in Faraba Banta, as our goal is that the UTG becomes a world-class citadel of learning.”
He emphasised that the new infrastructure represents more than buildings—it is an investment in human potential and a direct response to national challenges, including the loss of young talent through irregular migration, often referred to as the ‘Backway’. By providing world-class education at home, the government aims to retain and empower the country’s future generations.
The laying of the foundation stone for Lot 3 signals an equally ambitious future. The upcoming School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences will offer programmes in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Sciences, supported by sixteen cutting-edge laboratories and a teaching clinic. President Barrow said the facility, once completed, “will significantly enhance our health system and improve lives.”
The entire Faraba Banta campus expansion is funded through a partnership between the Government of The Gambia, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The collaboration has already delivered Lot 1 and is now delivering Lot 2, with Lot 3 set to further increase UTG’s capacity to produce highly skilled professionals.
Hon. Prof. Dr. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, hailed the project as proof of the government’s commitment to inclusive and accessible education. “This is more than bricks and mortar—it’s an investment in the minds shaping Gambia’s future,” he said, adding that the expanded facilities and strengthened academic programmes will produce graduates ready to innovate and lead a self-reliant nation.
UTG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Herbert S. Robinson called the developments the beginning of a new era focused on relevance, innovation, and national service. He praised the rapid progress from Lot 1’s recent completion to the ongoing construction, describing the campus as “a promise of opportunity and a space for future leaders.”
Students also voiced strong support. Muhammed Ngallan, President of the UTG Students’ Union, expressed gratitude for the government’s efforts, noting that the new facilities will ease congestion, improve well-being, and foster creativity. “This expansion offers hope,” he said.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, President Barrow held bilateral talks with representatives of BADEA and IsDB. He thanked both institutions for their longstanding support and highlighted the importance of infrastructure in achieving middle-income status. The President specifically commended BADEA’s Trade Financing Facility for helping stabilise prices of basic commodities and requested continued assistance to build economic resilience. He urged deeper investment in transformative projects to accelerate national growth.
As the ceremony concluded, President Barrow called on students and staff to use the new resources responsibly, pursue excellence, and become solutions to Gambia’s challenges. He pointed to supporting initiatives such as the Student Revolving Loan Scheme and the National Research and Innovation Fund as evidence of the government’s commitment to youth development.
With Phase Two now operational and Phase Three underway, the University of The Gambia is poised to emerge as a regional centre of excellence. Observers say the Faraba Banta Campus symbolises a turning point—one that aligns education with national priorities in agriculture, law, health, and sustainable development, offering young Gambians compelling reasons to build their futures at home.
