Returnee turned builder: How Serign Habib Ceesay transformed setbacks into national service

Born in Banjul and raised in the West Coast Region, Ceesay pursued Accounting Technician (AAT) studies at the Management Development Institute (MDI) while working for Maerskline Shipping Agency after graduating from Methodist Academy in 2007. In 2010, he secured admission to Navarro College in the United States to study Accounting, where he excelled academically, earning a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

His dreams, however, were shattered when a close family member allegedly misused the savings he had entrusted for his tuition, forcing him to abandon his studies. Soon after, a routine traffic misdemeanor for driving without a licence exposed his expired student status, leading to 49 days in jail before he was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Although an immigration judge granted him voluntary departure, delays in obtaining travel documents meant he remained in the United States under immigration supervision for several years.

Despite living with the constant fear of deportation, Ceesay refused to surrender. He worked in restaurants before joining a sawmill in rural America, where he became the company’s first African and Gambian employee. Starting as a labourer, he rose through the ranks to become a Quality Control Technician and later helped fellow Gambians secure employment through the company.

In February 2019, after nearly a decade of uncertainty, his travel documents were finally issued, bringing his American journey to an end. Returning home brought relief but also new challenges. Like many returnees, he faced stigma, with employers unwilling to hire him because of his deportation history. Around the same time, his marriage ended after his wife returned to the United States with their children, leaving him emotionally devastated.

Determined not to be defined by his circumstances, Ceesay found a lifeline when businessman Dr Amadou “Scattered” Janneh awarded him a contract to clear land and produce 5,000 concrete blocks. The opportunity reignited his confidence and launched his career in construction. He later co‑founded Urban Architect with another returnee, creating jobs while proving that deportees can make meaningful contributions to national development. One of the company’s landmark achievements was completing a D5 million construction project for The Gambia Methodist Academy.

Ceesay diversified into foreign exchange trading and founded Ndougagambia, an e‑commerce platform enabling Gambians abroad to support their families back home. Beyond business, he dedicated himself to community service. He contributed to establishing the first health centre in Mamuda village, supported the renovation of the village mosque, assisted school dropouts to return to education, helped complete an orphanage Madarasa in Gunjur and facilitated an electricity project that connected hundreds of homes and the village’s only health facility.

Now serving as General Manager of M&T Global Construction Group, Ceesay mentors young professionals and supports youth‑owned businesses through subcontracting opportunities. He has also provided interest‑free financial assistance to women entrepreneurs and market vendors to help them establish small businesses.

In 2023, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing Hajj, where his voluntary service to elderly pilgrims earned him the Outstanding Pilgrim Award — an honour he regards as one of the proudest moments of his life.

Today, Ceesay uses his experiences to inspire returnees and young people facing adversity. “Deportation is not the end of life,” he said. “Failure is not final. What matters is your willingness to rise again, rebuild your life and continue helping others.”

His remarkable journey from deportation to leadership and service is a story of resilience and renewal — a reminder that even life’s greatest setbacks can be overcome with faith, determination and a commitment to humanity.