BAC Chairman Says Council Has Awarded Over 1,000 Scholarships, Pledges Expansion to KMC Under UDP Government

By Seedy Jobe

Brikama Area Council (BAC) Chairman Yankuba Darboe has disclosed that more than 1,000 students have benefited from the council’s scholarship programme since its introduction in 2024, highlighting the initiative as part of efforts to expand access to higher education for students from financially disadvantaged families.

Speaking at a United Democratic Party (UDP) political meeting in Dippa Kunda on Friday, Mr. Darboe outlined the growth of the scholarship scheme and pledged that similar educational support could be extended to Dippa Kunda and the wider Kanifing Municipality (KMC) if UDP leader Ousainu Darboe wins the December 5 presidential election.

According to the BAC chairman, the scholarship programme was introduced after the current council assumed office to help students whose families could not afford the cost of university education.

He said the initiative initially supported approximately 300 students in 2024, with the council spending D3 million on scholarships during its first year.

As demand for financial assistance increased, the council expanded the programme to accommodate 600 students in its second year.

Mr. Darboe said the number of beneficiaries had increased further to 900 this year, bringing the cumulative number of students supported since the programme’s inception to more than 1,000.

He also disclosed that the council is currently covering tuition fees for 187 students enrolled at the University of The Gambia (UTG), at a cost of D6 million this year alone.

The BAC chairman presented the initiative as an example of how local government institutions could help address financial barriers to education and improve opportunities for young people.

Addressing residents of Dippa Kunda, Mr. Darboe said the scholarship scheme could be replicated in the Kanifing Municipality under a UDP-led government.

He linked the proposal to the party’s education agenda, arguing that investment in young people’s education and professional development is essential to the country’s long-term progress.

“Youths are the engine of the country. If youths don’t have knowledge, it is a disaster,” he said.

Mr. Darboe maintained that expanding educational opportunities would not only improve young people’s prospects but also help address broader social and economic challenges, including irregular migration.

He argued that providing access to education and professional training could offer young Gambians alternatives to undertaking dangerous migration journeys, commonly referred to as the “backway.”

According to him, young people should be supported in pursuing careers in fields such as medicine, nursing, and law rather than being forced to abandon their ambitions because of financial constraints.

The BAC chairman emphasized that economic hardship should not prevent talented young Gambians from pursuing their education and realizing their professional aspirations.

He reiterated that youth empowerment through education remains a central component of the UDP’s development agenda, expressing hope that the scholarship initiative could eventually benefit students beyond the West Coast Region.

Mr. Darboe’s remarks come as political parties intensify their engagements with voters ahead of the December 5 presidential election, with education, youth employment and irregular migration among the issues featuring prominently in campaign discussions.