Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambian government has officially disbanded the OIC Secretariat, marking the end of an era for the body that had overseen preparations for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit, initially slated for 2022. In its place, a new state-owned entity known as the Banjul International Convention Center (BICC) has been established to manage both the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center and the VVIP lounge at the Banjul International Airport.

Effective May 1st, the Banjul International Convention Center has assumed full responsibility for the operational and security management of the iconic Jawara Conference Center and the associated high-level facilities at the airport. According to government sources, this change is not merely a rebranding of the previous structure but the formation of an entirely new organization with new personnel and a fresh mandate.

The OIC Secretariat, originally set up in 2018, was tasked with coordinating and mobilizing resources for the successful hosting of the OIC Heads of State Summit in The Gambia. Although the summit faced multiple delays and eventually concluded, the Secretariat had continued to oversee the management of major infrastructure projects initiated under its mandate.

However, with the summit concluded and its primary mandate fulfilled, the government has opted for a permanent institutional arrangement to manage the legacy facilities.

The BICC is now positioned to provide ongoing oversight and high-standard services at these strategic national venues, reflecting the state’s intention to professionalize and sustain the operations of the country’s key international event spaces.

Officials confirmed that the personnel of the disbanded Secretariat will not be carried over into the new institution. Instead, a completely new management team is being put in place under the BICC framework.

The Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center remains one of the most significant infrastructural legacies of the OIC-related development agenda in The Gambia. With the establishment of the BICC, the government appears to be shifting focus toward long-term utilization and international competitiveness of the facility, which has the potential to attract major conferences, summits, and events to the country.

The new structure is also expected to bring enhanced security protocols and management systems to both the conference center and the VVIP airport lounge, aiming to maintain high standards in line with international expectations.

The move to dissolve the OIC Secretariat and transition to a new entity marks a turning point in the country’s post-OIC summit.