By Seedy Jobe
The National People’s Party (NPP) Students Wing has reaffirmed its commitment to President Adama Barrow and the ruling party, crediting the administration’s investment in education with expanding access to learning and creating opportunities for thousands of Gambian students.
Speaking during the NPP Students Wing Bantaba with President Barrow at the party’s bureau in Bundung, Students Wing President Yusufa Tunkara described the student movement as one of the party’s most vibrant structures, with members drawn from universities, colleges, technical institutions, and senior secondary schools across the country.
He said the wing has spent the past several years strengthening its nationwide presence, expanding its reach within tertiary institutions, and intensifying political education among young people to promote the party’s development agenda and encourage active participation in nation-building.
Tunkara praised President Barrow’s administration for prioritizing education as a cornerstone of national development, highlighting the NPP’s scholarship programme, valued at more than D8 million, as a transformative initiative that has enabled many students to pursue higher education despite financial challenges.
According to him, the scholarship scheme has eased the burden on families while creating educational opportunities that will have lasting benefits for future generations.
“History will forever remember your administration as one that placed education at the center of national development,” he said.
He also commended the expansion of the University of The Gambia through the Faraba Banta Campus, describing the project as a symbol of hope, innovation, and progress. He said the new campus would ease congestion, expand academic offerings, and provide students with a modern learning environment that meets international standards.
Tunkara further welcomed the government’s decision to upgrade the Management Development Institute (MDI), the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), and the Gambia College into universities, describing the move as a forward-looking reform that will strengthen specialized training, promote research, and produce the skilled workforce needed to compete in the global knowledge economy.
He also applauded the construction of thousands of classrooms nationwide, saying the investment has improved learning conditions, reduced overcrowding and expanded access to education in underserved communities.
“Every classroom constructed represents another child whose future has been given a better chance,” he said.
Reaffirming the Students Wing’s support for the party, Tunkara pledged that members would continue mobilizing young people, promoting civic responsibility, and highlighting the government’s development achievements through peaceful and democratic engagement.
“The future of any nation lies in the quality of its youth. By investing in students today, you are investing in tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, scientists, public servants, and national leaders,” he said.
He assured President Barrow that the confidence placed in Gambian youth would not be misplaced, pledging that students would continue to serve with discipline, integrity and patriotism.
Tunkara concluded by thanking President Barrow for what he described as his visionary leadership and unwavering belief in the country’s youth. He also prayed for wisdom, strength, and guidance for the president as he continues to lead The Gambia toward peace, unity, and sustainable development.
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