Re: New Political Party Being Formed

Dr Sidat Yaffa

Reference is invited from the publication on the Standard Newspaper as per the above subject matter dated Friday 19th October 2018 ‘'A new political party is being formed and due for registration at the Independent Electoral Commission soon''. ‘'The party to be named Citizens for National Development, CND is headed by a UTG lecturer, Associate Professor Dr Sidat Yaffa and Dr Madi Touray''.

The said Professor should focus more on transforming the University of The Gambia to meet international standards first before eying for the presidency. However, if we want to have a better nation where students learn to develop themselves and strive hard to learn the values of life, we must focus our energy and resources on the university where it all began. As such will build trust within the citizenry to rally behind him in achieving his dream of the presidency.

Furthermore, how prepared and serious is Prof. Yaffa to run a State considering the calamities at the University of The Gambia which he and the colleagues need to address as soon as possible for a better educational system we all want to see?

Is Prof. Yaffa not aware that there is a need for basic furniture for lectures to take place at the UTG, the environment needs to be conducive to learning and as it stands the boards are so old? Their needs to be developed with regard to learning, the times have changed and in the 21st century, there is a necessity for the use of technology in the classroom. The University still lacks basic projectile or video presentations of important lectures. In a nutshell, there is zero use of the latest technological innovations to help students at the University of The Gambia in their learning.

The current infrastructure at both programs needs expansion in order to accommodate the increasing number of students particularly when other programs such as the medical and public health classes are held simultaneously. The said challenge should be the agenda of the Professor on how to address it for good.

Leadership in the 21st Century is an essential component in positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions about their institution's mission and goals, and properly allocate resources to achieve those directives. That's what the UTG need now in which Prof. Yaffa is a stakeholder. Sheryl Sandberg said Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.

To be continued…

Saidina Alieu Jarjou