Gambian Vice President, Badara Joof Is Dead

Gambia‘s Vice President, Badara Joof, has been confirmed dead.

His principal, President Adama Barrow, confirmed the sad development on Wednesday morning via his official Twitter handle, Naija News reports.

It was reported that Joof passed away in India, where he was being treated for an illness not disclosed.

President Barrow sympathized with all Gambians over the demise of his vice, praying to God to grant the deceased Jannahtul Firdawsi.

Barrow’s tweet read: “Fellow #Gambians, it is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing away of my #VicePresident, His Excellency, Badara Alieu Joof. The sad event took place in India after a short illness. May Allah grant him Jannahtul Firdawsi.”

Naija News understands that the deceased was a student at Armitage High School and trained as a teacher himself at Yundum Teachers’ College.

He held a bachelor of education degree from the University of Bristol, a master’s degree in English literature from the University of London, and a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Bath.

Joof began his career as a qualified teacher, teaching English at The Gambia College.

He was then head of the department of languages and literature at Nusrat High School. He was the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Education for many years. In March 2002, it was reported that he had been transferred to the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Local Government and Lands.

Joof worked as the World Bank Liaison Officer to the Gambia. In this role, he assisted higher education minister Mariama Sarr-Ceesay in introducing a new education policy to the Gambia.

Subsequently, on 22 February 2017, President Barrow appointed Joof as his Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.

The country’s leadership, however, was yet to release details about Joof’s burial as of reporting time, Naija News reports.