Nearly one year after the contract of Professor Andreas Steigen expired as the vice chancellor of the University of The Gambia , the management of the University has secured the services of a Gambian Professor, Muhammadou MO Kah, to steer its affairs.

Prior to his appointment as vice chancellor of the University of The Gambia , Professor Kah was the founding Dean to lead the School of Information Technology & Communications at the American University of Nigeria .  Prior to that, he was a faculty member at the School of Business-Camden, IT and E-commerce at Rutgers University for five years.

One of the African continent's most eminent scholars on Information Technology and Poverty Reduction and Development, Prof. Kah's academic research includes exploring ways in which advances in information communication technology contribute to poverty reduction, economic growth and development and enhance the quality of life for developing economies and communities.

He has over 15 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member, researcher, academic administrator, curriculum and program developer, coordinator of accreditation efforts, financial manager, budget development and strategic planner, having served as director of Institutional Research and Strategic Planning at Bloomfield College and Chair of the MIS and Operations Management Department at the American University of Sharjah, UAE.
 
Press briefing
Late Saturday evening, the university administration held a press briefing at its administration building in Kanifing to formally inform journalists of his arrival. Speaking at the ceremony, the new vice chancellor said he has come back home with hope and inspiration to work with his colleagues to deliver quality to the university. "I am here to move the UTG forward with the vision of His Excellency, faculty members, staff and students and to ensure that we achieve this vision early. The university is still young but has began humbly and has produced best minds in the country who as now giving back to the society. With this humble beginning, we were able to graduate medical doctors, and students from other disciplines.  There is no option of failure," he remarked.

Commenting on the proposed integration of the university with other tertiary institutions, the vice chancellor noted that government is committed to implementing the integration as rapidly as possible but systematically and responsibly so as to maximize the value for all staff and students. "We will work out mechanisms for this integration to work not only physically but the programs shall also be harmonised. However it is not as simple as it appears but we have to ensure that there will be room for that situation in the integration process. We need to focus on how to integrate within an academic perspective," he said.

For his part, the permanent secretary, Department of State for Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Yusupha Dibba, welcomed Prof. Kah and his wife, Jainaba Kah, and saluted him for taking up this responsibility. He noted that they have got the right Gambians who are highly trained and committed to the service of their dear country. According to him, Prof. Kah has relevant knowledge in information technology and vast experience that will help to strengthen programmes at tertiary institutes. He then promised that government will give all the necessary support to UTG and other tertiary institutions to attract the best and retain them and also to train and prepare for succession planning.

For her part, Jainaba Kah, the new director of the Management Development Institute and wife of Professor Kah, said since her arrival back home, she had several meetings with stakeholders and found out that there are very committed staff and faculty members. On the proposed integration of the university with other tertiary institutions, she said once this integration is finalised, MDI will build capacity for the society and the needs of the public.