By Makutu Manneh
The National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of The Gambia (NACCUG) marked a landmark achievement on Saturday, June 6, 2026, as it graduated its inaugural cohort of credit union management professionals under the Credit Union Management Professional (CUMP) Programme.
The graduation ceremony, held at the NACCUG Head Office in Kanifing, brought together newly certified professionals committed to advancing leadership, institutional resilience, and community development across the Gambian credit union sector.
Addressing attendees, NACCUG Chief Executive Officer Foday Sanyang described the programme as a strategic investment in the competence of those entrusted with managing credit unions, emphasizing that its core objective is to ensure that member savings are protected at all times.
He also extended appreciation to development partner DSIK for their financial and technical support, acknowledging that the resources required to develop and implement the programme were substantial and that DSIK’s intervention was instrumental to its success.
Programme Training Director Florence Mendy echoed those sentiments, thanking NACCUG management and all contributors for their commitment to the initiative. She expressed confidence that the partnership would endure, ensuring the programme’s continued growth and long-term impact.
“We have made this program such that it is skill transfer because we want you to replicate what you learn from class to your office,” she added.
In his keynote address, the DSIK Country Representative challenged graduates to translate their newly acquired knowledge into tangible results within their respective unions. He reminded them that the future of the credit union movement rests in their hands, and that the most valuable lesson the programme imparted was not risk management, governance, or strategy alone—but the courage to face uncertainty and press forward even when outcomes are not guaranteed.
Valedictorian Debour Bah captured the spirit of the occasion in her address, describing the graduation not as an endpoint but as the beginning of a greater mission and a deeper responsibility. “Through this programme, we have been equipped with knowledge and sharpened with discipline,” she said, speaking on behalf of her fellow graduates.
The inaugural graduation underscores NACCUG’s broader vision of transforming The Gambia’s financial cooperative sector—transitioning from manual to professional and computerized systems in pursuit of enhanced sustainability and improved service delivery to members.
NACCUG serves as the apex body and regulatory representative for credit unions in The Gambia. Founded in the 1990s, the association champions financial inclusion and poverty reduction, supporting over 123,000 members through training, auditing, supervision, and the provision of a Central Finance Facility.
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