"One student, one computer": Daouda Ngom explains the computers at Computer Land

When questioned about the non-receipt of computers intended for the "One student, one computer" program, the former Minister of Higher Education, Daouda Ngom, referred to the equipment reported in a customs-controlled transit warehouse.

The issue of computers allocated to Computer Land was raised during the parliamentary committee hearing of former Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Daouda Ngom. When questioned about equipment that Campusen's Director General, Abdoulaye Thiam, claimed not to have received, the former minister defended his handling of the matter, emphasizing the requirements of proper administrative procedures.

During the discussions, the members of parliament referred to a meeting held on April 24, 2026, at the General Secretariat of the Government. According to correspondence from Abdoulaye Thiam mentioned during the hearing, this meeting was intended to organize a site visit to verify the availability of computers stored in a bonded transit warehouse. The head of Campusen reportedly lamented the absence of representatives from the ministry, despite a follow-up request on June 16, 2026.

Daouda Ngom, however, denied having made a firm commitment to this visit. "I never committed to visiting a warehouse of this kind without the approval of the technical services," he stated.

Computers reported, but a contested procedure

The former minister revisited the information provided by Abdoulaye Thiam on April 27, 2026, including videos and images of boxes presented as containing the computers. According to his account, he had sought the opinion of Mame Penda Ba, Director of Higher Education Institution Financing, before considering an on-site visit. She reportedly determined that an inspection of the equipment was not warranted until the legality of the application had been established.

Daouda Ngom also stated that, despite a favorable opinion attributed to Campusen and dated November 3, the computers had not been presented clearly enough to allow for their verification.

For the former minister, the alleged presence of equipment in a warehouse was therefore insufficient to justify its acceptance. He defended a position he summarized as follows: "No acceptance, no delivery, no payment!"

Daouda Ngom distinguishes the Computer Land dossier from the Youth Olympic Games

During his hearing, the former minister also took care to distinguish the "One Student, One Computer" program from the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) project, which concerned, among other things, the IT equipment needs of students in the Olympic Village. According to him, confusion had arisen between the two initiatives during the meeting on April 24th. He stated that he had reminded participants that the computers involved in these projects could not be considered equivalent.

Daouda Ngom has finally rejected any attempt at a cover-up in this affair. "Whoever tries to conceal the truth about the Campusen case, we will be there to set the record straight," he declared. The former minister asserted that he stands by the decisions made during his time at the ministry. However, the conditions of availability of the computers allocated to Computer Land, their physical verification, and the regularity of the procedure remain points to be clarified based on the contract documents and the statements of the various parties.