University of the Gambia

The University of the Gambia is an institution of higher education located in Kanifing, Banjul and Faraba Banta Campus the Gambia. UTG serves as the primary center for academic excellence and research in the Gambia.

WWW utg.edu.gm 𝕏 uniofgambia FB utg.gambia

History

The campus was founded in 1998 in Kotu-Kanifing, a suburb of Sere Kunda as the country's first public University. It was not until March 1999 that the UTG started to offer courses, following a law passed by the National Assembly of the Gambia. In 1999, 300 students are reported were enrolled. In 2001, Yahya Jammeh's government conducted extrajudicial killings at the university. In 2002, the number of academic staff was 44. In 2006, nearly 2000 students were enrolled. By 2023, UTG has register 6719 students, the University successfully delivered 54 undergraduate programs, 22 master's programs and 4 PhD programs.
The Gambian government has planned to create a new campus at Faraba Banta. Lot 1 of the Faraba Banta Campus was inaugurated on Match 2nd 2024, by the President of the republic of the Gambia, Adama Barrow Lot 1 comprised of the four schools Business and Public Administration, Information and Communication Technology, Education and Arts and Science. These Schools can accommodate over 3500 students and while the library building named after the late Alieu Badara Joof former vice president, has a capacity of 1200. Lot 2 which includes the Faculty of Law, School of Agriculture and Environmental Science, and the Chancery building is expected to be inaugurated in December 2025 by the president of the republic of the Gambia Adama Barrow. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology has unveiled plans for phase 3 of the UTG Faraba Banta Campus. Lot 3 is expected to house the school of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, strengthening the country's capability to train health personnels.

Growth and Development.

By 2002, academic enrollment had increase along with staff numbers; by 2006, UTG had nearly 2000 students, illustrating rapid expansion in both programs and infrastructure .

Role in public health

On October 11, 2012, it was reported that the university has started two master's degree programs in public health in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Springfield and the University of Iowa. According to Vaccine News Daily: "Rex Kuye, the head of the public health department, said that the two programs were conceived of locally to address growing health concerns in the Gambia. The Gambia has made many public health strides in the last two decades. The nation was certified as polio free in 2004 and has had no confirmed polio cases since that time. The success in the battle against polio resulted from high political commitment and routine polio immunization coverage of more than 90 percent since 1990, according to the Foroyaa Newspaper."

Schools

The UTG is composed of several schools :

School of Agriculture and Environment Sciences, Faraba Banta Campus.
School of Arts and Sciences, Faraba Banta Campus
School of Business and Public Administration, Faraba Banta Campus
School of Education, Faraba Banta Campus.
Faculty of Law, Kanifing.
School of Journalism and Digital Media, Kanifing
School of Engineering and Architecture
School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Banjul.
School of Information communication and Technology, Faraba Banta Campus
School of Graduate Studies and Research, Kanifing.
UTG Digital Campus
UTG North Bank Campus, Farafenni

Degrees

The qualifications that can be attained include :

Bachelor in Education
Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Religious Studies
Bachelor of Law
Bachelor of Medicine / Surgery
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Bachelor of Science in Communications & Media
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Economics
Bachelor of Science in Environment Science
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
Bachelor of Science in Management
Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Midwifery
Bachelor of Science in Physics
Bachelor of Science in Planning and Design
Bachelor of Science in Political Science
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications & Wireless Technologies
Master of Arts in African History
Master of Arts in French
Master of Law
Master of Science in Climate Change and Education
Master of Science in Public Health
Master of Science in Mathematics
Master of Science in Agronomy
Master of Science in Chemistry
Master of Science in Biology
Master of Science in Physics
Master of Science in International Relations
Master of Science in History
Master of Science in English
Master of Science in Economics
Master of Science in Business Administration
PhD in Public Administration
PhD in Law
PhD in Agronomy
PhD in Biology
PhD in African History

Academic staff

Past and present lecturers and directors at the UTG include the following:

Dr. Aidara, Human Resource Director
Mr. Mbakeh Camara Director of International Relations
Dr. Lamin B. Ceesay, Acting former Head of School of Business & Public Administration
Ousainou Corr, Director of Finance
Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, former Director of Student Affairs
Pa Sara Drammeh, Acting IT Director.
Prof. Faqir. Muhammad Anjum, former Vice Chancelor.
Prof. Herbert Robinson, Vice Chancellor of the University of the Gambia
Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof, lecturer of history.
Musu Bakoto Sawo, lecturer in international human rights law and winner of the "2020 African of the Year Award" from Daily Trust.
Bukhari M.S. Sillah, lecturer of economics.
Saja Taal, lecturer in political science.
Dr. Momodou Lamin Tarro, Registrar of the University of the Gambia.
Dr. Sidat Yaffa, Director of WASCAL.
Associate Prof. Jainaba Sey-Sawo, lecturer Nursing and Reproductive Health.
Prof. Muhammad M.O Kah, former Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Donal Ekong, former Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Pierre Gomez, former DVC Academy.
Prof. Kayode Adekeye DVC Academic
Dr. Gibriel Bajie, lecture School of Business and Public Administration.
Prof. Banna Sawaneh, Dean School of Business and Public Administration
Prof.Olaolu Opadere, Dean Faculty of Law
Prof. Raphael Kolade Ayeni, Dean School of Graduate Studies
Dr. Mbemba Hydara, Dean School of ICT
Prof. Gabriel Ogun Provost, School of Medicine and Allied Health Science
Dr. Ousainou Sarr, Dean School of Education
Dr. Melchizedec J. Onobe, Dean School of Journalism and Digital Media
Associate Prof. Christopher Belford, lecturer School of Business and Public Administration
Dr. Lang Sanyang, Director of Research and Consultancy.
Bede Onyemaechi Okorie, Head of Department Faculty of Law.
Dr. Lamin K. M. Fatty, Dean School of Agriculture
Prof. Ousman Nyan former Vice Chancelor Academic
Bobo Baldeh, Acting Registrar
Chief Director of Operations, Dr. William Jabang
Dr. Aminta Njie, Director of Admission & Financial Aid
Alieu Darboe Director of Facilities & Auxiliary Services
Prof. Andreas Ludvig Steigen former Vice Chancelor
Rex kuye, lecturer, School of Public and Environment Health
Berha J. Jonshon Dean of School of Engineering & Architecture