Africa-Press – Gambia. President Adama Barrow conducted an official inspection of the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) Brikama Campus, expressing satisfaction with the progress of ongoing construction and development works.
The site visit, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, was part of the President’s regular engagements aimed at evaluating key national projects.
During the tour, President Barrow engaged with project staff and contractors to better understand their challenges and progress. The foundation stone for the USET Brikama Campus was laid by the President on July 30, 2022, with the goal of establishing a university focused on practical skill’s development in applied sciences, engineering, and entrepreneurship.
Following the tour of the facilities and surrounding areas, President Barrow commended the quality of work, noting that the infrastructure creates a conducive learning environment for the youth.
”When you are trained, and you are skillful you are marketable. When you are skillful, you are empowered, and this is a big opportunity for our youthful population to change their lives. It’s a game changer for the young population of this country,” President Barrow said.
He emphasized that many, including himself, never had such opportunities in The Gambia. He encouraged the youth to take this opportunity seriously, as it has the potential to create job opportunities for them.
He further pointed out that those trained at the facility have the ability not only to train others but also to become self-employed, generating employment opportunities for themselves and fellow young people throughout the country.
He also mentioned that there are services traditionally sought in Senegal, but now those same services can be accessed locally. This, he noted, will help retain foreign currency within The Gambia, as previously, individuals had to travel to Senegal and pay for services in foreign currency. Now, that currency will stay within the country.
The President further praised the campus equipment and facilities, revealing that even experienced professors from older institutions were impressed by the advanced tools available at USET.
”And I am impressed with what the professors are telling us. Some of them have been in this field for long and work at universities over there that have been operating for over 50 years, but they have seen equipment here that they have never seen in those universities. So it is a big job we started from the top so then the sky’s the limit,”he stated.
President Barrow assured that a sustainable plan is in place, including the training of personnel to maintain and repair the machines and infrastructure.
He also acknowledged the support of international and local partners, noting that their contributions have been instrumental in bringing the project to its current stage.
The President concluded by announcing that the official opening of the USET Brikama Campus is scheduled for June 21st, with contractors expected to complete the remaining work within the next 15 days.
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