Gambian awarded Best OTHM Award in UK

The Organisation for Tourism and Hospitality Management (OTHM) Awards and Presentation 2010 was held at London South Bank University Thursday, 28th October. The program was witnessed by the OTHM top management authority, students, parents, distinguished Colleges and their management. The annual OTHM Award is a distinguished ceremony to reward the hard working OTHM students and motivate them into the Tourism and Hospitality Management industry.

The day is very special to the students and respective Colleges. The overall most outstanding student award winner in the Post Graduate Diploma for the fist time in the history of the OTHM program went to The Gambian born Ebrima Manneh of Albion College in the presence of his College Principal Michael Addison and one of his best lecturers Ms Yvette Henry.

Mr. Manneh was awarded best student for the Post Graduate Diploma level 1 & 2, for June 2010. He also won the  Professional Higher Diploma 2 best paper and the overall best paper of the Higher Professional Diploma in 2009  The management of the OTHM program congratulated Mr. Manneh for his out standing achievement that will remain a history for the OTHM  remarked by Mr Lakhi Liyanage the OTHM Chairman.

Mr. Ebrima Manneh hails from Brufut Town Kombo North, West Coast Region. He attended Brufut Primary School, Armitage High School, Gambia College PTC & HTC graduate. He taught at Berending Junior Secondary School, Sukuta Junior Seconday, Saint Augustine Junior, Muslim Senior, SOS Senior and Farafenni Junior Secondary to name a few before coming to UK in 2001 to further his education. He first studied Law with the University of London and graduated with LLB Honours and he also holds MBA Degree.  He mentioned that he comes from the heart of the tourism industry in The Gambia where he occasionally used to help out a friend at a Beach Bar and restaurant prior to training and working as a teacher.

He developed feeling for the tourism industry even worked in hotels and other hospitality organisations in UK. He started studying International Tourism and Hospitality Management in 2007 and successfully completed the Professional Diploma, Higher Professional Diploma and the Post Graduate Diploma in June 2010. He said the course is quite interesting and can now relate most of the issues studied to The Gambia whose tourism industry is the major foreign exchange earner. 

In a testimonial published in the OTHM guide to employers, centres and stakeholders setting standards for others to follow published September 2010, Mr.Manneh mentioned that 'I chose to study International Tourism and Hospitality Management because my country's economy is heavily dependant on tourism but lacking a lot of expertise and human resource to make this sector more successful to the economy of The Gambian people.' Mr Manneh's immediate goal is to successfully pursue the Masters of Science Degree in International Tourism and Hospitality Management with either the Leeds Metropolitan University or the University of Hertfordshire.

As The Gambia Ministry of Tourism authority prepares to attend the World Travel Market Expeditions at the ExCel centre at London from 8th to 11th November 2010, there is high hope Gambia's tourism industry would be marketed at one of the best International Tourism trade fairs in the world. It would enable the country’s tourism authority sell the beautiful image of our beloved country, the peace, hospitality, rich culture as well as the fantastic hotels situated at the coastal area of the Smiling coast of Africa.

Mr. Manneh calls on Gambian students to engage in the studies of Tourism and Hospitality Management not only to work for the tourism industry and come to Europe but do research that would explore the rich Gambian culture and best historical places in the country to attract huge tourism in The Gambia.

This occasion was also attended by Mr. Omar Colley the OTHM representative for The Gambia and Mr.Abdoulie Mendy (Joe) OTHM lecturer and Course coordinator at North London College of Business Studies www.nlcbs.co.uk .Mr. Manneh dedicated his awards to all Gambian students and Albion College. May God continue to guide him with good health to return back to The Gambia to further share his knowledge and wealth of experience with The Gambian communities. All those who worked with him likewise the students he taught at different schools both in The Gambia and UK will acknowledge that Mr.Manneh is hard working, outspoken, and 100% committed  to his services at all times.