The Gambia Boosts Education and Medicine with $46M Investment in UTG

Minister for Higher Education Prof Pierre Gomez © Askanwi

By Fatoumata Jaiteh

In a bold move to enhance healthcare education and promote academic tourism, the Government of The Gambia has announced a $46 million investment to establish a School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences at the University of The Gambia’s Faraba Banta campus.

According to the Ministry of Information, "the campus will support 1,200 medical students, 1,200 pharmacy students, 1,800 nursing students, 600 allied health students, and 800 public and environmental health students. An additional 435 nursing students and 443 public health students will be absorbed into the new faculty."

During a press engagement on 4th April 2025, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, emphasised the government’s strategic ambition to turn The Gambia into a hub for medical education in the region.

“This project will not only raise the standard of training for our future doctors and healthcare professionals but also attract students from across borders,” Minister Gomez stated, adding that the initiative marks a turning point in "our vision to transform the higher education trajectory."

The facility will include 16 medical laboratories and will be supported by international capacity-building programs for lecturers, ensuring high-quality academic delivery.

The minister also announced that Lot 2 of the UTG Development Project—featuring schools of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Law, and a seven-story chancery building—is scheduled for inauguration on 27th December 2025. President Adama Barrow is expected to officiate the event, which will also include the laying of the foundation stone for the new medical school.

University of The Gambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Herbert Robinson welcomed the initiative, noting that it is “an essential leap forward in strengthening our academic infrastructure and national capacity.”

With construction deadlines set by President Barrow and a vision for academic excellence driving the agenda, this ambitious project is more than just a building—it’s a blueprint for a healthier, better-educated Gambia.

Vice Chancellor of the UTG Prof Herbert Robinson © Askanwi