In a powerful presentation, he urged Caribbean and West African nations to collaborate more deeply through tourism, vocational education, and cultural exchange laying the groundwork for a future of shared prosperity, heritage preservation, and regional integration.
Founded in 2008, ITTOG has grown into one of the region’s premier vocational institutions for tourism and hospitality, earning multiple international awards for excellence in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Most recently, in June 2025, ITTOG received the prestigious Balafong Award for its outstanding contribution to capacity building and human resource development across West Africa.
During his presentation, Nyang emphasised the importance of inclusive vocational training to empower youth who may not progress through formal education systems. He called for practical apprenticeship programs, government-funded internships, and regional standardization of tourism curricula to elevate education and job readiness across borders.
“Our colonial past divided us but our shared heritage must now unite us,” he stated. “Heritage interpretation should be authentic, told through our stories, by our people, in our own voices. We need to invest in research, revive beneficial cultural practices, and encourage knowledge-sharing in areas like music, storytelling, and traditional medicine.”
He proposed the formation of a professional education exchange task force, supported by regional bodies like ECOWAS, and stressed the need for CARICOM and ECOWAS to harmonize their efforts.
Highlighting the ECOTOUR Action Plan 2019–2029 developed by ECOWAS, Nyang underlined the importance of curriculum alignment and joint standards in tourism development.
Further, he identified untapped business opportunities between the Caribbean and West Africa especially in tourism and mechanized agriculture. He appealed for direct flight connections between the two regions to reduce travel barriers and boost trade and tourism. “Though we are separated by oceans, the flight distance is merely 5 to 6 hours if we remove the U.S. transit. We must change this reality,” he posited.
He assured that The Gambia is ready to lead, offering land and incentives to potential investors and airlines willing to bridge the gap. “The sky is the limit to what West Africa can offer our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean,” he said.
Calling for unity and cooperation, Sheikh Nyang urged both public and private sectors to act: “We must work together as one force. Let ECOWAS and CARICOM lead the way. Let our private sectors link through joint chambers of commerce. Let us build a unified tourism curriculum and promote cultural exchange to revive and celebrate our shared identity.”
