Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Gambia

  • The Gambia’s national university renames its agriculture school after Akinwumi Adesina

    The Gambia’s national university renames its agriculture school after Akinwumi Adesina

    The Gambia’s national university renames its agriculture school after Akinwumi Adesina

    According to Africa Newsroom (via APO Group), the University of The Gambia has renamed its School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in honour of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, citing his long-standing impact on agriculture and development across Africa.

    The move positions the faculty as a symbolic rallying point for food-security research, climate-smart agriculture, and youth-focused agripreneurship—areas that continue to dominate policy conversations across West Africa.

    It also signals a reputational bet: when institutions attach a global development figure’s name to a school, stakeholders expect the standard to rise—through partnerships, research output, and funding.

    Punch also reported the renaming and quoted Adesina’s reaction, including the phrase “deep sense of gratitude.” The Guardian Nigeria similarly confirmed the development, noting the university “renamed its School” in his honour.

    Echotitbits take:
    This is soft power turning into institutional opportunity. Watch for what follows the ceremony—new grants, exchange programmes, and targeted research labs that can turn the name into measurable outcomes.

    Source: The Punch — January 2, 2026 — https://punchng.com/the-gambia-varsity-renames-faculty-after-ex-afdb-president-adesina/
    The Punch 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Deadly boat accident off The Gambia renews spotlight on West Africa’s risky migration routes

    Deadly boat accident off The Gambia renews spotlight on West Africa’s risky migration routes

    2026-01-02 06:00:00
    In a story published by Punch, authorities in The Gambia say at least seven people died and many others went missing after a migrant boat capsized off the country’s coast, with rescue efforts continuing.

    Officials say the incident reflects the dangerous routes migrants take—often using overcrowded vessels and relying on smugglers—while families and communities scramble for information about the missing.

    The tragedy is prompting renewed calls for safer migration pathways, stronger coastal monitoring and tougher action against trafficking networks.

    Reuters reports the head of local authorities said “around 40 people were presumed to be dead and 115 were injured” in a separate, widely-reported New Year tragedy, underscoring how quickly mass-casualty events can unfold during peak travel and celebration periods; Al Jazeera similarly notes that migrant movements and cross-border travel often spike around holiday periods, putting strain on safety systems. (Note: West Africa’s migration-risk profile is being tracked closely by multiple international outlets and agencies.)

    Echotitbits take: West Africa’s migration story is increasingly a safety and governance story. Watch for how Gambian authorities coordinate with neighbours, whether prosecutions target smuggling organisers, and whether regional bodies push practical alternatives that reduce the incentive for perilous crossings.

    Source: LEADERSHIP Newspapers — January 2, 2026 (https://leadership.ng/7-die-scores-missing-as-migrant-boat-capsizes-off-the-gambia-coast/)

    LEADERSHIP Newspapers 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: LEADERSHIP Newspapers