NTAC DG Yusuf Buba Yakub Drives Nigeria’s Impact as USET Graduates 951 in The Gambia

  

Banjul, The Gambia – June 20, 2026

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, NTAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, played a central role at the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, USET’s 2nd Combined Convocation in Banjul, where 951 students graduated amid renewed praise for Nigeria’s development cooperation.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the NTAC DG conveyed Nigeria’s goodwill to the Government and people of The Gambia. He used the platform to reaffirm President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through strategic technical assistance, knowledge transfer, capacity building, and the deployment of skilled Nigerian professionals under the NTAC Scheme.

DG’s leadership spotlighted as NTAC transforms Gambia’s higher education  

A defining highlight of the ceremony was the visible impact of the NTAC Scheme, driven under Buba Yakub’s leadership. Several Nigerian Technical Aid Corps volunteers now occupy top academic leadership positions in The Gambia’s tertiary institutions, a direct reflection of NTAC’s focus on placing competent professionals where they can deliver maximum impact.

Key NTAC-trained leaders include:  

1. Engr. Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde, Vice Chancellor, USET  

2. Prof. Ado Yusuf Abdulfatah, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, USET  

3. Prof. David Gundu, Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, USET  

4. Prof. Akinlabi, Director, Grants/Research, USET  

5. Prof. Kayode Adekeye, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, University of The Gambia  

Their rise, the DG noted, underscores the enduring success and relevance of the NTAC intervention in The Gambia.

DG commends partners, receives presidential award

The NTAC DG commended The Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, for his steadfast commitment to the NTAC-Gambia partnership. He recalled that Prof. Gomez initiated talks to strengthen collaboration with NTAC as early as his second day in office, a move Buba Yakub described as “remarkable dedication to educational advancement and human capital development.”

In recognition of NTAC’s outstanding contributions to capacity building and educational development in The Gambia, President Adama Barrow personally presented an Award of Recognition to Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub during the convocation. The award further validated the DG’s efforts to position NTAC as a strategic instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy and South-South Cooperation.

DG rallies graduands, reinforces NTAC mandate

Speaking at the event themed “Innovation for Impact: Science, Skills and Sustainable Development,” the NTAC DG emphasized that the Scheme remains committed to fostering human capital development and institutional strengthening across Africa. He urged the 951 graduands to uphold excellence and integrity, while encouraging USET’s Governing Council and Management to sustain innovation for lasting impact.

Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde, USET Vice Chancellor and product of the NTAC Scheme, paid special tribute to the DG and the Government of Nigeria for unwavering support. She credited NTAC’s deployment strategy under Buba Yakub’s leadership for the transformation of tertiary education in The Gambia.

The convocation conferred Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates on 951 graduands. Awards for Academic Excellence were also presented to outstanding students, with scores ranging from 70.03% to 91.50%.

Also present were USET Governing Council Chairperson Engr. Ebrima Cham; Sierra Leone’s Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie; members of the diplomatic corps; senior government officials; and development partners.

The event reinforced NTAC’s role under Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub as a key driver of Nigeria’s technical assistance diplomacy, delivering skilled manpower that builds institutions and deepens lasting bilateral relations between Nigeria and The Gambia.

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