Date: 29th April 2026

Venue: Kairaba Avenue

Honourable Deputy Speaker
His Lordship the Chief Justice
The Imam Ratib of Banjul,
Honourable Members of the Cabinet,
Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Traditional Leaders, Esteemed Partners, and the QGroup Family,
Distinguished Guests,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great joy and pride that I join you to inaugurate the QGroup House, a landmark that symbolises confidence, ambition, and progress.

Whenever we inaugurate a structure, people usually focus on its architecture and elegance, without appreciating its significance. Today, I urge that, in addition to the magnificence of the QGroup House, we visualise what QGroup really signifies, how it impacts lives, and the magnitude of the services it offers.

Only then would we realise that this event is a celebration of belief in the ability of Gambians to successfully execute their vision. The occasion sends a powerful message, especially to our young people, that development can be driven from within.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
For many years, development was associated with external support through aid flows, foreign capital, and imported solutions. While partnerships remain valuable, today, we are affirming something far more transformative - that Gambians can lead their own development journey.

QGroup embodies this principle. It has established itself as an institution founded, financed, and built by Gambians, driven by a clear vision, and powered by world-class technology, including digital innovation and artificial intelligence.

The Group has amazingly evolved beyond a collection of businesses to embrace an integrated platform advancing multiple sectors of our economy. Through QREC, for example, which constructed this impressive facility, the Group continues to demonstrate capacity, capability, and excellence.

The Group has carried the Gambian flag beyond our borders, proving that our enterprises can compete and succeed on the global stage. This is not just commercial success; it is nation-building in motion.

As one of the largest private sector employers in the country, QGroup has consistently fulfilled its tax obligations with integrity, which The Gambia Revenue Authority publicly acknowledges.

When businesses meet their responsibilities, the Government is empowered to deliver essential public goods, such as the provision of schools, hospitals, and roads. In this way, QGroup continues to contribute significantly to national development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The “Sunu Buss” philosophy, ours or owning our destiny, aligns closely with the spirit of Yiriwa, our national development agenda. The lesson is that true sovereignty goes beyond politics. It embodies economic strength, technological capability, and cultural confidence, as demonstrated through the public-private partnership nurtured in the country.

The message from QGroup is that when Gambian talent is trusted, when local capital is reinvested, and when our institutions grow, the benefits remain within our economy and strengthen our future.

That is why Yiriwa is more than a government programme. It is a call to national action. It seeks to drive inclusive progress across the country, reaching farmers, entrepreneurs, students, and communities in every region.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
We live in a period of profound global transformation. Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, digital finance is redefining economies, and data and connectivity are now central to national competitiveness.

The countries that will succeed in this new era will not necessarily be the largest, but the boldest that invest in infrastructure, develop skills, and take ownership of their future. The Gambia is determined to be one of them.

The reality is that Government alone cannot build this future. Our role is to create an enabling environment through stability, sound policies, and sustained investment in infrastructure.

Roads, energy, and connectivity have been developed in this respect as pathways of development, and not for mere luxury. The QGroup House reflects this vision. It is more than a corporate headquarters.

Within this facility stands The Gambia’s first Data Centre, ensuring that our national data is stored, managed, and secured within our own borders. This is not only a technological milestone but also an assertion of sovereignty. This mark of advancement in IT is a statement of national confidence, reflecting a modern, forward-looking, and distinctly Gambian brand.

In QCell Fibre, we vividly see the foundation of a modern digital economy, and in QCell Avenue, we visibly see how strategic investment can transform infrastructure into a corridor of opportunity.

My Government remains committed to partnering with the private sector to expand digital inclusion, strengthen broadband access, enhance digital literacy, and improve service delivery. The motivating factor is obvious: in today’s world, digitalisation drives the development of every sector.

Mr. Chairman, your journey, from humble beginnings to building a world-class Data Centre, mirrors the aspirations of our nation. Beyond infrastructure, what you have built is confidence in our people, in our potential, and in our future.

I encourage every Gambian to appreciate that the infrastructure we are developing is for public use, but infrastructure alone is not enough. You must build on it, innovate on it, and use it to create the next generation of Gambian enterprises.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are demonstrating here that development is not something we wait for, but a circumstance we create. Together, let us change our circumstances.

Looking beyond the present with optimism, I now have the honour to officially declare the QGroup House open. Concurrently, I pronounce QCell Avenue inaugurated, and The Gambia’s first Data Centre and QCell Fibre Services launched.

I pray that this landmark development inspires generations of Gambians to act on the belief that we are capable of achieving everything we dare imagine.

I thank you for your attention.