QGroup Foundation presents scholarships to 20 students

The QGroup Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Q-Group of Companies, on Tuesday presented scholarships to 20 deserving students to pursue four-year courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics also referred to as STEM at the University of the Gambia.

Launched in 2022, this annual scholarship programme jointly coordinated in close collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), seeks to create opportunity for young brightest individuals to continue their education at the University of The Gambia, targeting students from all regions of the country.

Further, this year being the fifth edition, the initiative has seen rapid increase in the number of students billed for the programme in previous years to 20 students in 2026.

Currently, the scholarships scheme, which basically focuses on STEM subjects, is sponsoring 70 students at the UTG.

At the presentation ceremony held at QCell auditorium along Kairaba Avenue, Isatou Secka Jah, executive director of QGroup Foundation, reminded that their mission is to create positive change by promoting education, improving health care and fostering vibrant communities.

“Our philosophy is PRIDE, which stands for Productivity, Responsibility, Innovation, Discipline and Efficiency,” she said. “We try to pave the way and motivate others to follow. As I have said year-in year-out, the Q Group and MoBSE are indeed true partners and our relationship goes way back, and we've been reiterating this every year.”

She stated that this year too, the first cohort of 10 students that were initially awarded in 2022 and have completed their courses and will be graduating hopefully in February, or on the next graduation date.

She acknowledged that The Gambia is at a crossroads, and for people to move forward, there are several sectors that the country needs to invest in now for the children to reap the benefits tomorrow.

To this end, she outlined the importance of education, saying no country can thrive without giving value and investing in education, particularly the cornerstone of the productive sector- STEM.

“Prior to this program, the QGroup Foundation has been supporting many students every year, particularly on the privilege to access tertiary education at UTG or Gambia College.

However, the partnership between QGroup Foundation and MoBSE to award STEM scholarships was specifically established to bridge the gap being seen in the country’s institutions of higher learning, she said, adding that the scholarship initiative is to encourage young students to venture into STEM right here at home.

She indicated that their program is unique in that it is not only merit-based, but it's also need-based, so applicants have to demonstrate to the committee why they need the scholarship.

This, she added, guarantees that the scholarship goes to those hardworking students who need it the most, those who have no other means of accessing tertiary education except in The Gambia.

“This year, we received 231 applications, which were carefully reviewed by the scholarship joint committee,” she noted.

Madam Secka described the selection process as “very challenging” and even heart-breaking for the committee as most of the candidates performed very well in their studies and demonstrated strong financial need.

“But in the end, we had to select only 20,” she said, as it can’t be helped, at least on this occasion. “If you can recall, in the first two years, we were selecting only 10, and this was increased last year to 20.”

Also, she informed that the strategy they employed to select the final 20 was inclusivity, saying they made sure they included candidates from each of the regions proportionately.  “We also employed diversity,” she said.

Also speaking, Madam Fatou Bittaye, Director of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, described the event as one that represents far more than the presentation of financial support, but a powerful testament in the potential of youth, and that is the present awardees.

‘‘It is an investment in talent, resilience, and the future leadership of our nation,’’ she averred.

Through this initiative, she explained, the QGroup Foundation has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to national development by empowering young people to pursue higher education in fields that are central to innovation, productivity, and socioeconomic transformation.

‘‘At the Science and Technology Education Directorate, our mandate is clear, which is to promote science, technology, engineering, and innovation as key drivers of sustainable development,” she said. “We are convinced that no nation can achieve lasting progress without deliberate and sustained investment in its human capital, particularly its young ones. Scholarships such as this one plays a critical role in removing barriers to education, allowing bright, determined students to focus on learning, research, creativity, and innovation rather than financial constraints.’’

To the beneficiaries, she extended heartfelt congratulations, reminding them that their selection is a testimony to their hard work, discipline, and academic merit.

The scholarship, she added, is both an honour and responsibility and urged them to make good use of it.

She thus warmly commended the QGroup Foundation for its visionary leadership and for aligning its support with national priorities in education, skills development, and innovation as manifested in the awards.

“Partnerships of this nature between the private sector and government are essential if we are to build skilled, competitive, and forward-looking workforce capable of driving The Gambia's development agenda. In closing, I express my sincere appreciation to all partners, families, and stakeholders who continue to support and nurture our students.”

Muhammed Jah, Chairman and CEO of QGroup, used the forum to remind students that education is key to the development of this country, adding that “whether you are poor or rich, the most important thing is to have education”.

“Students are lucky nowadays. Our times, our parents used to pay all the school fees and everything. In fact, we used to carry our chairs and tables to school every day. Today, not only that you have chairs and tables, but your classrooms are tiled with fans,” he said.

In light of this, the Gambian business tycoon maintained that education is now free in government schools from primary school to high school, referencing that in Africa, it's very sad the continent has everything in terms of natural resources and yet keep asking where they are.

‘‘Because no one knows where these natural resources are. Today, we have oil, but we don't know where it's coming from. We have gold - African countries, we have everything, but we don't know where the natural resources are in Africa,’’ he stated.

The Gambian business mogul noted that even “if a country has oil”, it must have people who are educated and knowledgeable in that regard to be able to utilise it for the benefit of the people.

CEO Jah enjoined the recipients of the scholarship to always consider themselves lucky in view of the fact that they are going to be industry experts.

He thus spoke of the foundation’s resolve under the leadership of Isatou Secka Jah to continue to expand the scholarship to cover more deserving students.

Habibatou Drammeh, Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, expressed delight with the initiative and to be associated as well with the event, recalling that last year similar ceremony witnessed the award of 10 scholarships to boys and girls across the country.

Minister Drammeh lauded the initiative, which she said is designed to give hope and opportunity to young people, adding that this is part of the nurturing process that the Ministry would continue to accord these students to be able to guide them along the way to succeed in life.

To this end, Minister Drammeh acknowledged the remarkable contribution of QGroup to the country’s education.

“I am happy and it gives me great delight that we are here today to celebrate a very important occasion that marks both a personal achievement for both student and parents and significant contribution to nation building,” he said.

In light of this, she thanked the QGroup foundation on behalf of The Gambia, for choosing to support young people of this country, something, she said, is worth commending.

She reemphasised to the recipients the great opportunity availed them to success, reminding them of the competitive selection process.

Speakers included Joseph Mendy, a student of St Peters and a recipient of the scholarship, and Khadijatou Manneh, a past recipient.

The award also witnessed presentation of laptops, Mifi router and school bags to the recipients. The ceremony was graced by senior officials from MoBSE, and beneficiary students accompanied by their parents.