The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has announced the selection of four Nigerian professors for key roles at the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) in The Gambia.
Dr. Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General of NTAC, made this announcement on Saturday in Abuja during a courtesy visit from The Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Prof. Gomez Pierre.
Dr. Yakub highlighted that the exceptional expertise of the four Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers prompted the establishment of a task force by the ministry’s Governing Council. This move followed the task force’s report recommending the appointment of the professors to essential positions within the university.
He explained that the task force was created to evaluate the current TAC volunteers in The Gambia and fill the vacant roles at USET, ensuring the institution’s effective operation.
“The report of the task force says that the Gambian ministry has requested the endorsement from the Nigerian authorities for their appointment.
“The letter requesting endorsement, addressed to the Nigerian Mission in Kanifing and copied to the NTAC D-G, was received on Friday in Abuja.
“The Volunteer professors were selected following openings created by the imminent end of the tenure of the current Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof.Samuel Owusu-Ofori, whose tenure comes to an end on September 30.
“The Professors and their positions include: Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde -Vice Chancellor, and Prof. Yusuf Abdulfatah – Vice-Chancellor (Academics)
“Others are Prof. Akinlabi Oyetunji – Director, Research and Grants, and Prof. David Gundu – Director of academic Planning and Quality Assurance,” he said.
The NTAC D-G said that the deployment of the crop of volunteers by NTAC to The Gambia earlier in the year was part of the 24-month Nigeria’s TAC scheme.
He said that it was aimed at providing technical assistance to that country.
He said that the move by the Gambian authorities remained significant, as it highlighted the strong partnership between the country and Nigeria in the areas of education and technical cooperation.
`The Gambia remains one of the first and highest country subscribers to the TAC Scheme, and it has at the last count, received over 12,000 Nigerians as Volunteers since the establishment of TAC in 1987
`’They include engineers, lawyers and medical professionals,’’ he said
