Written by: Badr Ahmed

President Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia, today received at the Presidential Palace in the capital Banjul, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (USET), Professor Nazmat T. Sirajuddin-Bakindi, and her accompanying delegation, in a courtesy visit that addressed the ongoing preparations for organizing the university’s second graduation ceremony.

Preparations for the graduation of 951 students

The meeting was held to brief the President on the latest preparations for the graduation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026, which will see the graduation of a new batch of students in various technical and engineering disciplines.

During the meeting, President Adama Barrow praised the progress made by the university in the field of technical and vocational education, stressing the importance of bridging the national skills gap and expanding opportunities for Gambian youth and women through TVET programs, as one of the main pillars for supporting the country’s economic and social development.

The President also thanked the Government of Nigeria for its continued cooperation in supporting this educational project, which contributes to enhancing human capabilities and building qualified personnel capable of meeting the needs of the local labor market.

For her part, Professor Nazmat Sirajuddin-Bakindi explained that USET University will graduate a total of 951 students in its second batch, distributed across a number of specialized colleges and institutes, including 36 graduates from the College of Science and Engineering, 668 from the Institute of Technology, and 247 from the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

She emphasized that the graduates possess the skills and knowledge necessary to support the industrial transformation process in The Gambia and contribute to driving the country’s economic and social development by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and technical capabilities.

The university administration indicated that this achievement reflects the state’s commitment to developing technical and vocational education as one of the main drivers for empowering youth, creating job opportunities, and building a more sustainable economy.

The delegation was accompanied during the visit by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, Hon. Pierre Gomez, as part of the emphasis on government coordination to support higher education institutions and strengthen their regional and international partnerships.