AAMU CALNS Working on Potential Exchange Program

The AAMU College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences (CALNS) welcomed the Honorable Saihou Jawara for a campus tour Monday. Jawara is the Mayor and Chairman of the Kuntaur Area Council, one of eight local government areas in the country of Gambia. Jawara is in the United States for the World Conference of Mayors.

“Agriculture is the backbone of The Gambia,” said Jawara. “Alabama A&M University is an agricultural and mechanical university, so I cannot come to the United States without coming here to see all that you are doing and gather new ideas to develop my country.”

Jawara met with AAMU faculty and foreign students while touring the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station, the University’s working research farm. The Mayor hopes to build a collaboration and exchange program between Alabama A&M University and the University of The Gambia.

“We don’t have processing centers, so we need support in that area,” said Jawara. “We need more knowledge about post-harvest and industries to help establish processing crops.”

In a letter to AAMU Research Associate Professor Dr. Ernst Cebert, Jawara stated his district’s willingness to explore plans for implementing mutually beneficial activities to include student research, mentorship & internship, summer projects, student exchange and other rewarding opportunities with a focus on the Kuntaur region. He also hopes to create a productive agriculture enterprise using innovative technology and traditional knowledge that addresses malnutrition, provides training, creates employment, and bolsters livelihoods for resource-poor rural communities.

“The key point is to see how we can connect with his region in Gambia, his University and then to see if a student exchange can begin to take place, and our professors can go and get engaged,” said Cebert.

CALNS Dean and 1890 Research Director Dr. Lloyd Walker says AAMU already has contacts in Gambia.

“Historically we have had students from Gambia,” says Walker. “So, we are going to try to strengthen that. I see that he needs a lot of assistance when it comes to post-harvest agriculture and that’s the food science area. We have a lot of strength where that is concerned.”

Jawara has been in the U.S since September and returns to Gambia at the end of the month after the final World Conference of Mayors meeting in Orlando. This is his first visit to the U.S and his first visit to an HBCU.

“I want to thank the ambassador to our council who accompanied me to Alabama A&M, Ms. Carrie Martin,” said Jawara. "I miss my family, I miss my people, but we love this country, especially the Black community.”

(Photo L-R) Dr. James Bukenya, AAMU Director of Search Compliance; Hon. Saihou Jawara Mayor/Chairman Kuntaur Area Council, Gambia; CALNS Dean Dr. Lloyd Walker; Carrie Martin, Living Hope Global Ministries of Pennsylvania; AAMU Research Associate Professor Dr. Ernst Cebert