Beneficiaries of ten students each were drawn from the communities of Faraba Banta, Pirang and Tujereng. They will pursue studies at the University of The Gambia in diverse fields ranging from BA English and BSc Mechanical Engineering to Advanced Diploma in Nursing and MSc Statistics and Data Science.
The ceremony, held on Friday 18 April 2026 at the MoHERST Conference Hall in Kanifing, brought together stakeholders from across the three communities.
Professor Pierre Gomez, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, announced that the scholarship scheme will run for five years. Each year, five diploma slots will be offered at public tertiary institutions, alongside five Bachelor’s and/or Master’s slots tenable at public universities in The Gambia.
Prof Gomez described the initiative as “a promise made and kept” through partnership between government and the communities. He recalled that on 13 May 2025, the Ministry wrote to the Alkalo of Tujereng to thank the community for providing land for a Fisheries Centre of Excellence under the World Bank’s RISE project. In return, government pledged a scholarship package valued at D4,480,000 for Tujereng.
Similarly, on 18 June 2025, scholarships worth D4,480,000 each were offered to Pirang and Faraba Banta in recognition of their support in hosting the UTG Faraba Banta Campus, bringing the total value to D8,960,000.
The Minister further revealed that MoHERST, through the Gambia Resilient, Inclusive, Skills and Equity (RISE) project, is establishing two Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centres of Excellence: one in Agribusiness at Ndemban and another in Fisheries and Aquaculture at Tujereng. These flagship projects aim to enhance youth skills and employability both within the communities and nationally.
Ousman Bojang, Governor of the West Coast Region, urged the awardees to take their education seriously and to work closely with their Village Development Committees (VDCs) for community advancement. “One of the selection criteria was involvement in the community. So, go back to your community and give back to the community you come from,” he advised.
The scholarship package represents a significant investment in education and community development, reinforcing government’s commitment to expanding access to higher learning while recognising the contributions of local communities.
