By Seedy Jobe
The University of The Gambia (UTG) on Saturday, December 27, 2025, inaugurated Lot 2 of its Faraba Banta Campus, marking a major milestone in the country’s drive to expand access to quality higher education and strengthen research capacity.
Speaking at the ceremony, UTG Vice Chancellor Professor Herbert Robinson said the expansion is strategically focused on enhancing research infrastructure, particularly through the establishment of modern laboratories for agriculture and related sciences.
“These laboratories position the University of The Gambia to play a leading role in applied research that directly supports national priorities,” Professor Robinson said, highlighting critical areas such as food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture. He urged students to make responsible and effective use of the new facilities, describing them as “an investment in your future, and in the future of this nation.”
Also addressing the gathering, the Governor of the West Coast Region, Ousman J. Bojang, commended the university’s leadership for its vision and commitment to educational development.
“Your visionary ideas are opening doors now and for future generations to come,” he said, noting that the West Coast Region is proud to host three of the country’s four public universities, a development he said has significantly expanded opportunities for local communities.
The Country Director of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Omar Davies, reaffirmed the institution’s long-standing partnership with The Gambia, pledging continued support to the education sector. “The Gambia will always find a steadfast partner in the Islamic Development Bank,” he said.
Davies disclosed that the IsDB has invested more than US$1.3 billion in The Gambia since 1980 through 177 development operations. He emphasized the university’s role in driving sustainable national growth, urging stakeholders to ensure the campus becomes “a beacon of hope, knowledge, and opportunity for generations to come.”
Lot 2 of the Faraba Banta Campus comprises the Chancery Building, the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and the Faculty of Law, all equipped with modern laboratories and a Moot Court.
UTG also announced plans for Lot 3, which will house the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, further expanding the university’s academic and research footprint.