About TFA
Empowering leaders. Cultivating excellence.
The Forbes Academy (TFA) is a premier professional training institute based in The Gambia, dedicated to empowering leaders, cultivating excellence and strengthening institutional performance across sectors.
Founded in 2019, TFA began as a public speaking academy responding to the growing demand for effective communication skills in the country. Its outstanding results in transforming the confidence and presentation abilities of professionals quickly led institutions to request broader capacity-building programmes.
Today, TFA delivers high-impact training in leadership, customer service, communication, team-building, change management and other essential professional competencies tailored to the needs of modern workplaces. TFA's client portfolio includes government ministries, parastatals, leading financial institutions and prominent businesses.
While its roots are in The Gambia, TFA's reputation now extends beyond national borders. The academy has conducted one-on-one online training for clients in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Malaysia, and is preparing to scale up its international programmes in 2026 to meet rising global demand.
Vision
To champion and nurture excellence in every sphere of national life.
Mission
Through high-quality, context-appropriate training, mentoring and coaching, TFA equips professionals and institutions with the confidence, competence and clarity needed to reach their full potential and elevate service standards.
Recognition
Founder honoured with the Member of the Order of the Republic of The Gambia (MRG, 2008) and the RAIN Leadership Award (Accra, 2023).
Founder & CEO
Pastor Francis Forbes
MRG · "The Nation's Pastor"
Pastor Francis Forbes is a respected Gambian leader, communicator and minister whose national influence spans over three decades. An accomplished pianist and former World Piano Prize winner, he has long been celebrated for his ability to inspire excellence across generations.
His nationally acclaimed GRTS programme, Discovering Truth, has aired for 29 consecutive years, earning him the affectionate title "The Nation's Pastor" for his ability to speak with clarity, wisdom and neutrality across social, political and religious lines.
He is widely recognized as a trusted national figure, frequently called upon to contribute to important national conversations, high-level consultations, and delicate negotiations relating to peace, national cohesion and societal harmony. Through his Radio Vision project — the Jaama FM radio station and studio — he also shines a light on influential people and encourages young artists in their endeavours.
In 2019, he founded The Forbes Academy (TFA). The overwhelming success of its flagship public speaking programme led to TFA's rapid expansion into leadership development, effective communication, team building, customer service and institutional capacity-building.
Where we work.
Our training venue is the fully air-conditioned mini-banquet room at "the gateway", Abiding Word Ministries — Bertil Harding Highway, Bakau Mile 7 (opposite WAIS School and GAMWORKS Building). Corporate training can also be arranged at your premises.
TFA is registered in Nigeria as Forbes Executive Training Ltd (FET) — incorporated December 2025. Reach Nigeria on +234 916 022 1245.
