The Gambia University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET), led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nazmat Toyin Surajudeen-Bakinde, has welcomed a delegation from First Bank for an engagement focused on strengthening collaboration in technology, digital services, student support, and corporate social responsibility.
During the engagement, the Vice Chancellor welcomed the First Bank delegation and emphasized the importance of building a mutually beneficial partnership between the two institutions. She highlighted opportunities for First Bank to establish a stronger presence within the University and provide services that would benefit USET’s growing student and staff population.
The First Bank delegation presented its plans to support USET with essential ICT equipment, including routers, switches, and servers, as part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at supporting education and technological development.
Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde and members of the USET management team welcomed the proposed support, noting that the equipment would contribute significantly to strengthening the University’s digital infrastructure as USET continues to expand its campuses and outreach centres across the country.
The discussions further explored opportunities for a First Bank presence on campus, including a possible Quick Service Centre, student banking services, and convenient digital payment solutions for tuition and other university fees.
USET also highlighted the possibility of integrating its digital admissions and billing platform with First Bank’s payment system, which could enable students to conveniently pay university fees through digital channels.
The First Bank team also presented its recently launched digital financial products which includes First- Ndimbal Loan that outlined opportunities for students and staff to benefit from the Bank’s expanding digital services.
The Vice Chancellor expressed appreciation for First Bank’s proposed contribution and encouraged the Bank to view the engagement as the beginning of a broader institutional partnership. She emphasised that collaboration between the private sector and USET would be important in supporting the University’s growth, digital transformation, and service delivery.
The engagement concluded with both institutions expressing their commitment to continued collaboration, with further discussions expected on the proposed ICT support, campus banking services, digital payment integration, and future CSR initiatives.