Gambia's President refuses to take up prestigious title conferred by country's main university
Many African leaders would never miss an opportunity to add another tittle to their already full hats, the more the merrier.
Therefore many would never miss an opportunity to add another tittle to their already full hats, the more the merrier.
Gambia’s long serving president who was driven to exile in 2017, Yahya Jammeh for instance was simply ‘addicted’ to titles.
The official title used was His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Aziz Awal Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen Babili Mansa.
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On 16 June 2015, he couldn’t resist another title and a statement from statehouse announced that the title of Babili Mansa will be added to his name.
The Mandinka-language phrase can be translated as "chief bridge builder" or "conqueror of rivers".
His predecessor Adama Barrow a former security guard however does not wish to copy Jammeh’s addiction and would prefer to maintain his simple ‘mister’ title.
On Monday Mr. Barrow, was conferred with a doctorate of Laws and Human Rights (Honoris Causa) by the country’s main university, University of The Gambia (UTG) during the 10th Convocation of the UTG.
But whiles thanking UTG for the gesture Barrow turned down the ‘Dr’ title saying he did not want to be referred to by the title ‘Dr.’
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“Thanks to #UTG but I will maintain my name Mr Adama Barrow, no “Dr” title,” he said on Monday evening.
“It is an honour but also a challenge to all of us as Gambians to be recognised for our respect for human rights with Dr of laws and Human Rights (Honoris Causa). Thanks to UTG but I will maintain my name Mr Adama Barrow, no "Dr" title.” He tweeted.
Barrow was however not the only person conferred with a doctorate on the day, the country’s first president Dawda Jawara was also given the same honour, the minister of communication and government spokesman, Demba Ali Jawo disclosed.
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