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0 Twenty-eight pioneering students have become the nation’s first cohort of locally trained engineers.
This achievement is the culmination of a bold South–South academic partnership spearheaded by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
Comprising four civil, thirteen electrical, and eight mechanical engineers, including seven women, these graduates embody the vision ignited in 2019.
The collaboration between KNUST and The Gambia took root through the World Bank-funded African Centres of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact) initiative. Recognizing the need to cultivate its own engineering talent, the Gambian government sought KNUST’s expertise to transform the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) into a degree-awarding institution.
A foundational pre-engineering program was thus initiated under the guidance of Professor Lawrence Darkwah and his colleagues from KNUST’s College of Engineering.
This burgeoning partnership was solidified in December 2019, when the then Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, led a high-level delegation to The Gambia.
Their visit culminated in a pivotal meeting with President Adama Barrow and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the new University of Science, Engineering and Technology (USET).
The delegation included Registrar Mr. Andrews Kwasi Boateng, Finance Officer Mr. Yaw Nimo Baffour, Provost of the College of Engineering Professor Mark Adom-Asamoah, and other key academic and administrative staff.
President Barrow expressed fervent support for the initiative, emphasizing education’s pivotal role in national advancement.
“This university will help diversify our economy by producing skilled engineers and scientists trained right here in The Gambia,” he affirmed.
The commitment deepened on June 1, 2021, when then Minister of Higher Education, Hon. Badara A. Joof, led a Gambian delegation to KNUST. During this visit, KNUST pledged to provide crucial support for USET’s evolution through short courses, research supervision, and comprehensive staff development.
USET’s transformation
The GTTI-KNUST Consultancy Service Agreement (2021–2024), backed by World Bank funding, was designed to build USET’s institutional capacity from the ground up. This involved collaborative teaching, robust curriculum development, specialized research training, and administrative mentorship.
Under this comprehensive project, KNUST faculty provided direct instruction across civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering disciplines, blending rigorous theoretical knowledge with essential practical learning. Curricula and course materials were meticulously adapted from KNUST’s renowned programmes. Furthermore, a crucial element of the partnership saw eleven GTTI staff enrolled in PhD training at KNUST; three have since graduated, with eight continuing their research.
A key architect of USET’s transformation was Professor Samuel Patrick Owusu-Ofori, a distinguished Ghanaian academic boasting over 40 years of experience in the U.S. A KNUST alumnus and honorary doctorate recipient, Prof. Owusu-Ofori’s critical role led to his appointment as Interim Vice-Chancellor of USET in January 2024, following his impactful tenure as a Senior Consultant for the project.
He was instrumental in establishing USET’s Emerging Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Engineering for Entrepreneurship (STEE).
“We are not merely producing graduates; we are building the foundation for innovation and sustainable development in The Gambia,” Prof. Owusu-Ofori stated.
Graduation of trailblazers
The inaugural graduation ceremony for USET’s engineering cohort, held in Brikama in June 21, 2025, was a moment etched in history. President Adama Barrow presided over the event, joined by dignitaries including Professor Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, Provost of the College of Engineering at KNUST, Dr. Denis Edem Kwame Dzebre, lecturer and Dr. Griffith Selorm Klogo, the Project Coordinator.
President Barrow enthusiastically applauded the collaboration with KNUST and congratulated the groundbreaking graduates.
“You have made history. You are the flagbearers of a new era in Gambian science and engineering,” he said.
Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde, Vice-Chancellor of USET, echoed the powerful sentiment: “We envision a Gambia where bridges, roads, energy systems, and digital infrastructure are designed and built by Gambians, for Gambians.”
Voices of impact
For many students, this educational journey was profoundly transformative.
Lawkadinch Silvia Gomez, a mechanical engineering graduate, reflected: “At first it was tough, but by the second or third year, we were confident. KNUST’s teaching quality was outstanding, and I feel lucky to be part of this historic class.”
Esther Jenneh Musa-Kormayea, a civil engineering graduate who previously studied architectural drafting, praised the rigorous approach.
“Lectures were intense but thorough. Our professors were always willing to go over concepts again,” she said.
Samuel Musa-Kormayea, the best graduating student in mechanical engineering and overall best student, highlighted the practical focus of the training.
“We had industry experience, not just classroom theory. I want to work a while and then pursue a master’s degree.”
Vincent Mendy, an electrical engineering graduate whose project focused on smart metering, shared the immediate impact.
“After graduation, I’ve already been contracted on a few projects. The confidence this gives me in my training is incredible,” he stated.
This initiative also fostered significant opportunities for staff development. Three PhD graduates from the programme have seamlessly transitioned into teaching and research positions at USET, strengthening the institution’s academic core.
“The level of training at KNUST equipped me with essential skills. Without KNUST, this would not have been possible,” Dr. Sidi Fofana, who completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2023, attested.
Dr. Paul Victor Jatta, another PhD graduate and now a lecturer at USET, passionately said: “My education at KNUST was transformational. I was mentored by great lecturers who prepared me to teach and lead research.”
Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko hinted at continued collaboration with the graduates.
“We involve them in our research. They are fellows of our research centres. The idea is to continue working with them.”
Lasting legacy
Despite logistical hurdles and the global disruptions of COVID-19, stakeholders affirm that this pioneering project has left an indelible mark. The partnership between KNUST and The Gambia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) now stands as a powerful model for regional academic cooperation.
Professor Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, Director of the STEE Centre and Head of the Civil Engineering Department at USET, was instrumental in driving the project’s implementation, with completion levels soaring from 50% to 99% under his leadership by January 2024.
Professor Albert Sunnu, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KNUST, also played a pivotal role in the USET program, leading mentoring efforts, curriculum delivery, and ensuring quality assurance throughout its development.
Now one of eleven countries participating in the African Centres of Excellence programme, The Gambia is well on its way to establishing a self-sustaining, high-quality engineering education ecosystem.
Now, only the final batch of students remains, and agreements to complete their training have been signed. The signed documents were formally received by the Vice-Chancellor of USET, marking a continued commitment to see the entire cohort through to graduation.
As USET continues its upward trajectory, its inaugural cohort of graduates stands as a living symbol of possibility. With a new generation of engineers trained at home, The Gambia is powerfully poised to shape its own future with its own hands.
Recognizing architects of success
The journey from vision to reality was navigated by dedicated coordinators from KNUST. Professor Jonathan Arthur Quaye-Ballard and Prof. David Ato Quansah served as early coordinators, laying the crucial groundwork and steering project activities through its formative years. Their foundational leadership set the stage for Dr. Griffith Selorm Klogo, who later coordinated the project through its pivotal final stages to completion.
In addition, Professor James Dzisi Gadze and Professor Emmanuel Amponsah Donkor accompanied the implementing teams on strategic missions and meetings that shaped key components of the programme’s rollout and stakeholder engagement.
The project was further supported by key administrative leaders from KNUST’s College of Engineering, whose roles were instrumental in logistics, finance, and programme execution. These included Mr. Johnson Owusu, Finance Officer and the College Registrar; and Mrs. Ida Saaed. The KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP), also provided consistent administrative coordination throughout the project’s duration.
