The Government of The Gambia is exploring a comprehensive technology cooperation partnership with Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), aimed at strengthening technology transfer, technical skills development, research, innovation and commercialisation.
The proposed partnership follows a high-level experiential learning visit by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, and his delegation to NASENI headquarters in Abuja on August 12, 2026.
The visit provided the Gambian delegation with first-hand exposure to Nigeria’s technology development ecosystem, including research and development, prototyping, manufacturing, technical training, technology transfer and commercialisation.
Discussions during the visit also focused on the development of a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASENI and the Government of The Gambia. The proposed areas of cooperation include technology development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), research, innovation, skills development and commercialisation.
Professor Pierre Gomez said The Gambia was interested in learning from Nigeria’s practical approach to research, development, manufacturing and technology transfer and adapting relevant models to the Gambian context.
During a visit to NASENI Solar Energy Limited (NSEL), he said: “We are looking for several ways of generating energy in Gambia. Our goal is to partner and learn from you to help The Gambian youths.”
The delegation also toured NSEL’s facilities, where officials observed solar module production, research and development activities, practical training equipment and solar technology applications.
The Minister underscored the importance of moving beyond theoretical qualifications towards practical skills and technological competence.
“It’s time to move from the African thing of acquiring certificates without practical knowledge, we are ready for technology transfer,” he said.
The engagement reflects the Ministry’s broader focus on strengthening the link between education, research, skills development and the productive sector. Through stronger partnerships between educational institutions, research organisations and industry, The Gambia seeks to equip young people with skills that can support employment, entrepreneurship, innovation and national development.
Representing NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Director, Technology Business Development and Special Adviser on General Matters, Engr. Ozigi O. Bernard, said NASENI was positioned to serve as a platform for technology development, transfer and commercialisation in Nigeria and across Africa.
He highlighted NASENI’s 3Cs approach Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation which seeks to ensure that research and innovation can translate into practical products, services and economic opportunities.
The Gambian delegation’s engagement with NSEL placed particular emphasis on solar photovoltaic technology, reflecting The Gambia’s interest in expanding renewable energy options while developing a skilled local workforce capable of installing, operating and maintaining renewable energy systems.
The delegation expressed interest in NSEL’s solar power trainer, a practical training tool designed to provide hands-on exposure to solar technology. Such initiatives could support the development of technical capacity needed to expand renewable energy applications in The Gambia.
Beyond renewable energy, the proposed cooperation could extend to areas including power electronics, embedded systems, industrial automation, agricultural engineering, advanced manufacturing, scientific equipment, materials development, aeronautics, drone technology, solid minerals processing and technical skills development.
The partnership is therefore envisioned as more than an exchange of expertise. It seeks to establish pathways through which technologies can be developed, adapted, transferred and commercialised to address local development needs.
For The Gambia, the engagement also presents an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between research institutions, universities, TVET institutions and industry while creating practical opportunities for young people to acquire market-relevant technical skills.
The proposed MoU is expected to provide a framework for translating the areas identified during the visit into specific programmes, responsibilities and measurable outcomes.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology remains committed to advancing partnerships that connect knowledge with practical application and support the development of a skilled, innovative and technologically capable workforce.
The NASENI-Gambia engagement represents an important step towards strengthening African cooperation in technology, research, skills development and innovation, while exploring practical pathways for African countries to develop and commercialise solutions suited to their own needs.
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