The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) today opened a two-day validation workshop on the Gambia Research and Education Network (GAMREN) Needs Assessment and Network Design Report, aimed at advancing digital transformation and strengthening research collaboration in The Gambia.
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Minister and Permanent Secretary, the Deputy Permanent Secretary Technical, Dr. Samba Sowe, described the establishment of GAMREN as a strategic national priority aligned with government’s agenda to promote research, innovation and equitable access to quality higher education.
Dr. Sowe said GAMREN is more than an infrastructure project, noting that it is a critical platform for knowledge creation, institutional collaboration and global competitiveness for higher education and research institutions.
He highlighted the importance of the validation workshop in reviewing the report to ensure it reflects national priorities, validates the proposed technical design and governance arrangements, and charts a practical roadmap for implementation.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing policy guidance and strategic oversight, while announcing plans to expedite the operationalization of the Project Steering Committee and Technical Committee as recommended in the feasibility report.
Dr. Sowe emphasized the need for a phased implementation approach supported by a viable sustainability model, adding that while the University of The Gambia serves as the pilot institution, efforts are underway to connect all relevant institutions across the country.
He called on stakeholders to engage openly and constructively throughout the validation process to strengthen the final report and support the successful operationalization of GAMREN.
The workshop, convened by the GAMREN Validation Workshop Committee with support from WARDIP and BAHAMUS Limited, has brought together stakeholders from academia, government institutions and development partners to review and validate the network design report.
At the close of his statement, Dr. Sowe, on behalf of the Honourable Minister and Permanent Secretary, officially declared the two-day validation workshop open.
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