SATURDAY,
8th FEBRUARY 2020 QCITY GROUNDS, BIJILO
Your
Excellency, the Vice President,
Hon.
Speaker of the National Assembly,
My
Lord, The Chief Justice,
Secretary
General and Head of the Civil Service,
Honourable
Ministers,
Honourable
Members of the National Assembly,
Excellencies,
Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,
Chairman
and Members of the University Governing Council,
The
Vice-Chancellor and Members of Senate,
Distinguished
Invited Scholars,
Staff
and Students of The University of The Gambia,
Distinguished
Guests,
I am delighted to welcome all the graduating
students, their parents, friends and well-wishers to this august occasion. For
me, it is a great honour to preside over the 12th Convocation Ceremony of The
University of The Gambia, especially noting the huge number of distinguished
personalities and academics in attendance.
Convocations
are unique moments in the lives of students and, often, mark the point of
separation between student and Alma mater.
With
mixed feelings, sometimes, they signal the end of an educational path, and the
beginning of another journey through life by those who proceed to pursue a
career after completing a course of training. This makes every convocation
ceremony very significant.
Today, we are here to recognise and celebrate
the achievements and years of devotion to intensive studies by a band of
refined young men and women.
We
are here also to highlight and appreciate the unrelenting support of parents,
guardians, sponsors and institutions that contributed to the success of the
graduating students and the joy of this ceremony.
I
heartily congratulate you on this remarkable moment, and I applaud all those
who have, today, earned a degree, diploma or certificate from this citadel of
learning; The University of The Gambia (UTG), which is our national beacon of
hope and academic fulfilment.
Your
Excellencies,
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
Since
its inception, the University has been training and graduating Gambians, who
have proceeded to contribute towards shaping the destiny of our country.
Together, we have witnessed tremendous achievements and gains in reshaping and
redirecting Gambian history and politics.
The
momentum calls for renewed determination and zeal to sustain peace, human
rights, justice and development across the entire nation.
My
Government is aware of the opportunities and strengths that must be harnessed
to realise all our development goals and objectives, primarily as set out in
the National Development Plan (2018-2021).
Furthermore,
we are conscious and, therefore, alert and responsive to our responsibilities
of upholding and promoting the dignity of the citizenry, and their equality and
rights to the provisions of our Constitution and other legal frameworks and
systems.
Such
recognition exceeds race, religion, creed, political affiliation and other
strands of diversity. This makes the focus of my address today, which is “The
Role of Higher Education in Sustaining Peace and Stability in The New Gambia,”
a relevant and an all-important theme.
Distinguished
Personalities,
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
It
is accepted globally that universities are designated institutions to examine
and find solutions to societal challenges, engineer growth and shape policy,
among other critical pursuits. This makes their role uniquely relevant in any
national development endeavour.
Universities
are vital partners for progress, peace and prosperity. They are renowned for
their role and involvement in providing crucial support through expert
knowledge and informed options and alternatives for Governments. We honour them
for the influence they have in developing human capital, and bringing out the
brightest and best in society. The UTG is no exception to this rule.
Conscious
of all these, the Government is committed to supporting and strengthening the
UTG in order to augment their contribution towards establishing a viable and
flourishing nation built on a new model of democracy and good governance.
Specifically,
we will continue to support and strengthen the UTG, as well as other
institutions of learning, in the areas of research, teaching and community
service.
Our
fervent wish is that the core activities of the University include due focus on
research, data collection and exchange of information and data on all aspects
of human endeavour. Particularly
relevant for our democracy are Human Rights and allied issues.
It
is trendy to institute established standards of rigour in research to inform
policy for development.
In
The Gambia, the need is quite urgent for policy makers to engage academics, and
benefit from their practice and knowledge to ensure that we embed their
expertise into policy formulation processes and implementation for optimum
performance and results.
For
this reason, academic freedom or the independence of The University of The
Gambia will be safeguarded to enhance empirical research and unbiased learning
and teaching processes, which are central to the mandate of all institutions of
higher learning.
This
approach is meant, in part, to avail the University the opportunity to entrench
internal monitoring mechanisms and to provide reliable feedback to Government
and its institutions for appropriate action.
Institutional
independence is aimed at discouraging external interference in curricular
issues and processes.
However,
as a segment of society and, similarly, a reflection of it, universities should
complement Government efforts by organising regular conferences, workshops and
seminars at national and international levels. Their programmes or courses have
to be functional and responsive to societal needs. Furthermore, compliance with
best practices and engagement of experts for academic and material benefits
should be paramount.
On
the issues of human rights, good governance and transparency, my Government
will continue to allow other institutions on Human Rights, such as the
Ombudsman, the National Human Rights Commission, the Labour Unions, the Courts
and litigation offices to perform their duties according to their
mandates.
Through
them, more awareness of the people’s rights and freedoms would endure. It is
assumed that this will minimise ignorance, and allow for unleashing the
creative potentials of the citizenry. The public will become more politically
inclined and informed, which is in the best interest of the state. In the
process, our general attitude, which has been a serious challenge to true
governance, will have to be rebranded and reformed.
In
addition, academics in our educational institutions, notably the University,
must be objective, empirical and rational in dispensing their responsibilities
and in handling issues, discourses and matters of national interest.
Academics
must also toil for the emergence of true patriotic citizens in a new
socio-political context, wherein the orientation will create the new Gambians
for sustained peace and development.
The
objective is to enable the ‘New Gambia’ to be built on and around an ethical
template to forge a society free from the shackles of hunger, need and greed.
The vision is a nation that the University and all educational institutions
should help to build: a nation free from extremism and prejudice, and a nation
built on equity in a New Gambia whose institutions are robust, accountable and
able to stand the test of time. It is evident that Gambians have the energy and
determination to promote and protect freedom, peace and stability, and uphold
the highest level of human rights.
As
a fundamental priority of my Government, Gambians will increasingly enjoy the
rights and freedom that enhance development across all spheres.
I
must remind you that, although Government is expected to manage the affairs of
the nation, without peace and stability, there cannot be any sustainable
development.
Sustaining
peace is both a goal and a process of building a common vision for a united
community.
It
calls for taking into account the needs and rights of all segments of the
population in activities aimed at preventing the outbreak and escalation of
conflict, while ensuring national reconciliation.
Distinguished
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In
the quest to nurture and sustain peace in the New Gambia, we have adopted
measures to strengthen the rule of law, social cohesion, respect for human
rights, good governance, dialogue and mediation, justice, sustainable
development and national reconciliation.
As
law-abiding citizens, it is obligatory for all of us to reject divisive
politics, and put the interest of The Gambia first. No citizen should allow our
political or religious differences to corrupt our judgement, and derail the
march to prosperity and a better and peaceful Gambia.
It
is mandatory upon all peace-loving citizens to be civil and disciplined, and to
exhibit peaceful dispositions both in their relationships with other citizens
and the state.
Your
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As
we rejoice today, let us be mindful of our collective responsibilities, as
citizens, to make our country peaceful, developed and prosperous. In my opinion,
patriotism is part of the solution to our troubles.
To
be patriotic, citizens must have the spirit of nationalism and good
citizenship, love their country, defend their country, sacrifice personal
interests, where necessary, and contribute to the greater good.
These
are the cardinal principles required in the conduct of a good and active
citizen. Development is urgent, and cannot be delayed or postponed. Therefore,
we call on you, as patriotic citizens, to be catalysts of peace and
development.
To
the new graduates, I say, being patriotic simply translates into consistent
discharge of one’s responsibilities and obligations accordingly.
Distinguished
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Until
recently, The Gambia was a renowned bastion of peace, human rights, justice and
democracy on the African continent. We are hopeful and convinced that all
patriotic Gambians, including the new graduates here, will work with Government
to reclaim and retain that lost mantle as a peace-loving and just nation.
We
trust that, together, we will strengthen our much-cherished interpersonal
relationships, as well as our freedoms, peace and stability for the sake of our
common progress and prosperity. I challenge you all to rise to the task, and
protect our new-found glory.
Once
again, I congratulate the University community, the graduating students, their
parents, guardians, sponsors and friends as they celebrate another successful
convocation ceremony.
In
particular, I congratulate the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science
and Technology on the achievements realized within the sector, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and all their partners,
stakeholders and practitioners. I wish you all every success in your noble
endeavours.
Thank
you for your attention.