Dear Visitors,

It is common knowledge that in the absence of higher education, research, science and technology, national development, economic growth and the creation of a critical mass of highly competent and skilled persons will be substantially hampered, thus leading to either stagnation or retardation. It is on this basis, coupled with the dire need for a well defined higher education system in The Gambia, that the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) was establishment in 2007 by His Excellency, The President of the Republic of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J Jammeh.

Since the advent of this Ministry, resources have been mobilised and appropriated, efforts redoubled and strengthened and strategies crafted and implemented to provide quality university education for all eligible and interested candidates both within and outside The Gambia. Standing in tandem with this, has been the dual pursuit of cultivating a research culture and developing and encouraging Science, Technology and Innovation in the country.

 Introduction

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) in collaboration with its partners and stakeholders held a two-day national exhibition and conference from the 28th to the 29th of December 2012. The theme of the conference was ‘‘Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for a More Vibrant and Sustainable Socioeconomic Growth and Development’’. This was the first national conference and exhibition on STI and was meant to be part of activities commemorating 2012 as the Year of STI in The Gambia, which was declared by His Excellency the President of The Republic of The Gambia in his inaugural speech in February 2012. The conference was also meant to enable all the stakeholders to bring in their views, opinions, suggestions and recommendations on the Draft National STI Policy (NSTIP) document which will be validated in early 2013. Therefore, this was a very important conference for all the stakeholders since the policy is a national document and needs the inputs of all the sectors.

Opening Ceremony

The meeting started with the arrival of Honourable Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Governors, Core Team of writers of the Draft Policy assigned by the Ministry of Higher, Education, Research, and Technology and participants from various sectors of the country.