The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has commenced a four-day validation workshop on the final design report and architectural drawings for the proposed TVET Centres of Excellence in Agribusiness and Fisheries & Aquaculture at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre (SDKJICC). The workshop brings together senior government officials, development partners, technical experts, private sector stakeholders, and community representatives to review and validate the final design documents.
Speaking at the event on behalf of President Adama Barrow, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez, described the initiative as a key milestone in strengthening technical and vocational education and advancing national human capital development in The Gambia. The initiative is being implemented under the Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills and Equity (RISE) Project in collaboration with the World Bank, with a total investment of USD 13 million.
The two centres will be located at Ndemban in Foni Brefet for Agribusiness and Tujereng in Kombo South for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Upon completion, the facilities will be managed by the Gambia University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) and are expected to serve as national hubs for skills development, innovation, and employability.
The centres are designed to provide modern, practical, and industry-relevant training environments, including laboratories, processing units, innovation hubs, incubation centres, engineering workshops, and entrepreneurship facilities tailored to the agribusiness and fisheries sectors. The infrastructure will also include classrooms, staff accommodation, crèches, and multifunctional halls to ensure inclusive and comprehensive training delivery.
The initiative reflects government’s commitment to youth empowerment, job creation, and reducing dependency on foreign expertise through the development of skilled human capital aligned with national development priorities.
The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is at an advanced stage, while curriculum development for competency-based training programmes has commenced. Efforts are also underway to train additional TVET instructors to support the effective rollout of the centres.
Stakeholders at the workshop were encouraged to provide technical input to ensure that the final designs meet both national needs and international standards before the commencement of the construction phase.
The Minister expressed appreciation to all development partners, technical experts, and the host communities of Ndemban and Tujereng for their continued support in advancing the project.
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