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Nigeria-Gambia Relations Assume New Levels as NTAC Volunteers Set for Headship of Gambian University

Published

1 year ago

September 28, 2024

Joel Ajayi

*Committee Winds up Activities with the Selection of 4 Volunteer- Professors for Diverse Positions in the University’s Administration;

*Higher Education Ministry in The Gambia Requests Endorsement by Nigerians of Selected Professors.

Four Nigerian Professors with Engineering backgrounds are set to take on key positions at the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in The Gambia.

This development follows the submission of a Report by a Taskforce set up by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and the Governing Council of USET.

The Ministry has requested endorsement from Nigerians for their appointment.The letter requesting endorsement, addressed to the Nigerian Mission in Kanifing and copied to the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub,was received on Friday in Abuja.

The Volunteer- Professors were selected after a thorough process, following openings created by the imminent end of the tenure of the current Vice Chancellor of the University ,Prof.Samuel Owusu-Ofori,whose tenure comes to an end on September 30 this year.

The Professors and their positions include:
i.Vice Chancellor – Nazmat Surajudeen- Bakinde;
ii. Vice Chancellor (Academics)- Prof.Ado Yusuf Abdulfatah ;
iii.Director, Research and Grants- Prof. Akinlabi Oyetunji as well as
iv.Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance- Prof.David Terfa Gundu.

The deployment of this crop of Volunteers by NTAC to The Gambia earlier in the year as part of the 24-month Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps scheme,was aimed to provide technical assistance to that country.

The current move by the Gambian authorities remains significant, as it highlights the strong partnership between the country and Nigeria in the areas of education and technical co-operation.

It will be recalled that The Gambia remains one of the first and highest country-subscribers to the TAC Scheme and has at the last count received over 12,000 Nigerians as Volunteers, including Engineers,Lawyers and Medical Professionals since the establishment of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps in 1987.

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NYCN: High Court Bars Gbenga, others from holding election

Published

6 hours ago

October 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Josl Ajayi

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued an order restraining Comrade Ademola Gbenga, Comrade Okechukwu Nnamene and others from conducting the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) election slated for October 7, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

Justice J. E. Obanor, in an order dated October 6, 2025, in suit no: FCT/HC/CV/3803/2025 and motion no: M/12204/2025, sighted by our correspondent, directed the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to enforce the court’s order.

The claimants/applicants in the case are the Incorporated Trustees of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, representing the existing leadership of the Council.

The defendants include Comr. Ademola Gbenga, Comr. Okechukwu Nnamene, Comr. Abel Abaji, Comr. Alex Allen Akin, Comr. Hassan Mamman, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services.

It would be recalled that the NYCN, during its National Elective Convention held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from September 20 to 22, re-elected Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo as President alongside other executives.

However, dissatisfied with the Sukubo-led leadership, Gbenga and his allies formed a parallel group and planned to conduct another election in Abuja on October 7.

Consequently, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the leadership of the NYCN, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The Order read in part, “Upon hearing the Motion Ex parte and the accompanying affidavit of. Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo listening to P. Ulofu ESQ., of counsel to the Applicants praying this Honourable Court for the following:-

“An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Respondents (Gbenga and others) or any person(s) acting through them or on their behalf from conducting the scheduled election of the 7th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice.

“An Order of Interim Injunction directing the Respondents to maintain the status quo with respect to the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, pending the determination of and determination of the motion on notice.

“An Order directing the 6th (IGP) and 7th (DSS) Defendants/Respondents to enforce the Order of Court restraining the 1st to 5th (Gbenga and others) Defendants, their privies, agents, or howsoever called, conducting the scheduled election of the 7 th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit and or application.

“The court ordered as follows: Application is hereby granted and order made as prayed. Case is adjourned to 16th October, 2025 for hearing of Motion on Notice.”

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