An Investment in University of The Bahamas is an Investment in the Nation, Board Chair Tells Rotary

17^th March 2026

Chair of the University of The Bahamas (UB) Board of Trustees Mrs Allyson Maynard-Gibson, KC, has called for stronger partnerships across The Bahamas to support the UB, its students and the role the university plays in shaping the country’s future.
Addressing the Rotary Club of East Nassau at the Nassau Yacht Club on Friday, Maynard-Gibson outlined an ambitious vision for UB as it looks ahead, one that places it at the centre of national progress and global engagement. She invited businesses, civic groups and community leaders to play a direct role in helping the university grow and in preparing the next generation of Bahamian leaders.

“The journey ahead requires mentors, internships, scholarships, and champions. It requires stakeholders who understand that when a nation invests in its university, it invests in its people,” Maynard-Gibson said.

The UB Board Chair described what the university could look like 75 years from inception. She painted the picture of a globally connected institution with students from across the world making up a third of its population, groundbreaking research tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges, and in Grand Bahama a thriving ecosystem of start-ups and industries emerging from the ideas and talent nurtured at UB North.
Maynard Gibson said the university has already begun strengthening the foundation needed to reach that future. UB has placed renewed focus on student success, expanding the services that support learning and achievement, while improving operational systems and financial sustainability. These efforts are key pillars in advancing the institution’s accreditation and long-term stability.
Maynard-Gibson also connected the university’s mission to the country’s broader development goals outlined in the national development plan draft titled, Vision 2040.

“Vision 2040 challenges us to build a Bahamas that is more resilient, more innovative, more globally competitive, and more opportunity-driven. Education is the nucleus of that ambition. A strong national university is not simply a matter of academic pride. It is a pillar of national development,” she said. “A strong university means a strong workforce, sustainable industries, and a country positioned to compete globally.”

Looking ahead, Maynard-Gibson said the university’s success will depend on continued commitment from educators, sustained investment from government and active support from communities and civic organizations such as Rotary.
UB’s enrolment for Fall 2025 – 5,020 – is the second highest in history, first-generation university students account for 35% of that number and international engagement for students is growing through study abroad and student exchange programmes with more than 45 tertiary-level partner institutions.

“The University of The Bahamas is on a journey. The vision is clear. The momentum is growing, so the question before us today is not whether this future is possible,” she added. “The real question is this ‘Will we help build it?’ Because if we do, when the story of The Bahamas in 2050 is written, it will say that, with God’s help, this generation did something remarkable.”

During the Rotary meeting, Past Rotary International President Barry Rassin presented Maynard-Gibson with the Paul Harris Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions and legacy of service.
Maynard-Gibson expressed gratitude for the honour. The award was also presented last month to His Excellency the Rt. Hon. Lowell Mortimer, CB, OD, OBE.