The call was made during a high-level seminar held over the weekend under the theme: “Transformational Leadership and Strategic Innovation for Business Growth in The Gambia and Beyond.”
The event brought together students, lecturers, business leaders and invited guests for discussions on the growing importance of innovation and visionary leadership in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Abdou Faye, Director of Subdeco Banjul Campus, reminded students that national development depends largely on the creativity and mindset of young people.
“The growth of a nation begins in the minds of its people,” he told participants, while encouraging students to actively engage in platforms that expose them to leadership and entrepreneurial ideas.
He described the seminar as an important opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with practical experiences from accomplished professionals.
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Njilan Senghore, Managing Director of Trust Bank, shared her professional journey from audit trainee to becoming the bank’s first female managing director.
She stressed that innovation has become a necessity for survival in today’s business world, warning that companies which fail to adapt risk collapse.
“Innovation is no longer optional; it is a survival issue,” she said, citing global brands such as Kodak and Nokia as examples of firms that struggled after failing to respond quickly to market changes.
Mrs. Senghore outlined four major pillars of innovation: product innovation, process innovation, business model innovation and market innovation urging Gambian entrepreneurs and future business leaders to strategically combine them for sustainable growth.
Speakers at the seminar also highlighted key challenges affecting businesses in The Gambia, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure and market barriers.
Additionally, participants were told that opportunities still exist, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area, which could significantly expand regional trade and economic growth if local industries focus on adding value to Gambian products.
The seminar ended with calls for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and the private sector to prepare students for leadership roles in the country’s evolving economy.
