The Honourable Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof is The Gambia’s current Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment.
Prior to this role, he served as Minister for Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination, and Delivery. Born in The Gambia in 1963, Hon. Joof holds a Master’s Degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hull, UK, in 2002, and a Teacher Training Certificate from The Gambia College in 1989.
His career began in education, teaching in primary schools across The Gambia from 1988 to 1996. During this time, he actively represented teachers as a grassroots volunteer for the Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU). In 1996, GTU leadership entrusted him with establishing a cooperative credit society for its members. Hon. Joof went on to lead the Gambia Teachers’ Union Cooperative Credit Union (GTUCCU) as CEO for 26 consecutive years.
He is a graduate of the inaugural Africa Development Educators Program (2014) and an International Credit Union Development Educator (2016), following training in the United States. Hon. Joof has served as a resource person and trainer for the Gambia Teachers’ Union, a technical advisor to the National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of The Gambia, and a contributor to ACCOSCA (African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations).
Beyond his technical work, Hon. Joof is also known as an inspirational speaker, having addressed numerous national and international forums.