Andreas Ludwig Steigen, Professor of Zoology, Ecology and Evolution, the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of The Gambia (UTG) and Nicodemus Fru Awasom , Professor of African History, were yesterday conferred professorship by Mrs. Fatou Lamin Faye, Secretary of State for Basic and Secondary Education, at Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Yahya Jammeh, who is also the Chancellor of the University of The Gambia (UTG), said the inaugural lecture marks yet another epoch-making event in the short history of the UTG. “The inaugural ceremony is a testimony of the academic calibre we have at the UTG”, he stated.

President Jammeh also said that the two professors: Professor Andreas Ludwig Steigen and Professor Nicodemus Fru Awasom, have distinguished themselves by the quantity and quality of publications that they have made in Africa, Europe, the United States and Canada.
In addition to their national and international publications, they have distinguished themselves through the services rendered to the Gambian community, and in their moral rectitude as professionals. “I have been reliably informed of the hardwork these two scholars have been engaged in, to create a viable tradition for our young university to give it character. They have set an example for other academic teachings at the university of The Gambia to emulate”, he said.

He added that the popular adage, ‘publish or perish” referring to academics should be the ethos among academics in the UTG system, and that the university must contribute to efforts geared towards addressing development challenges by generating knowledge and applying expertise.

“I salute the efforts of these two newly crowned professorstowards establishing postgraduate programmes, namely Masters and Ph.D programmes, which would serve as a laboratory for nurturing young Gambian academics”, he added.

He further noted the presence of friends of The Gambia, such as CODESRIA, as well as Norwegian friends, which not only made him proud, but confirmed the international nature of this great inaugural lecture. He also saluted CODESRIA for accepting to publish the UTG’s journal of Humanities and Social Science.

‘‘I am still very grateful for the workshop on scholarly writing that CODESRIA, organised for the staff and students of the UTG in 2005. CODESRIA must never relent its efforts to contribute to the growth and internationalisation of the University of The Gambia.
This Pan-African intellectual powerhouse is living up to expectations and their support to our young university is highly appreciated. I therfore wish to once more acknowledge with gratitude, the support that CODESRIA has rendered to our beloved University”, he asserted.

The ceremony was witnessed by senior government officials, senior lecturers and students of the University of the Gambia.