Gaye Njorro School of Hair Dressing and Beauty Cosmetology, in partnership with TARUD, Social Development Fund, Young Men Christian Association, and National Youth Service Scheme, recently certified 23 young people, mainly girls on hair-dressing, massage, customer care, among others.
The graduation ceremony, which was held at the Joint Officers Mess, Kotu, on May 24, 2013, was the fourth of its kind by the institute under the theme, “Generating ideas for entrepreneurs.”
Fatou Saine Gaye of the centre, said skills training forms an integral part of nation-building. She said last year their branch in Farafenni graduated 35 students with the assistance of GAMJOBS.
Out of these graduates, she said, 5 of them have been recruited as training staff at the annex in Farafenni.
She added that they had acquired funding from the World Bank, through the Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project (GCP) matching grant fund in support of school training materials, while the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) sponsored 50 students.
“With this intervention we are to add skills training in catering and information technology, with the help of the US Embassy we are able to partner with a university in the US of Ohio Cincinnati for an online international course on hair-dressing and beauty cosmetology and would commence course in July this year.
“Our vision is to see that every young person, including the disabled be skillfully trained to become self-independent and gainful employer,” he announced.
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, Mr. Sanyang stated that governments all over the world are prioritising sectors and programmes that will trigger growth, and thus create employment.
He said that there cannot be a better theme for the graduation than the one chosen –“creativity and innovation through skills training.”
Sanyang further stated that the key feature of innovativeness is the ability to combine knowledge across fields e.g. from science and technology to art and design.
He said this is usually driven by demand, new knowledge through research and development or new possibilities to apply existing knowledge in other contexts. “Creativity, on the other hand, could be defined as the process of bringing something new into being, as it brings about awareness what was previously hidden.”
According to him, education at all levels can develop creativity and innovation and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology create the policy environment for tertiary and higher education, including technical and vocational education.
He said creativity and innovation, through skills training is essential in our quest to realise Vision 2020 and the PAGE.
While stating that it is evident in the broad thrust of the higher education, he urged each and every one who is currently studying in Gaye Njorro to realise they are contributing to national development.
Also, speaking Isha Fofana better known as Mama Africa, said as Gambians, people need to work together and help each other. “Jealousy is a big sickness in our country today, nobody wants his fellow to rise, but please let us give chance to the young people to rise.”
Madam Fofana advised the graduates to continue learning and share new ideas with their colleagues, and be discipline in everything they do as “discipline is the key to success.”
John Stubbs, Political and Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Banjul said receiving good education is very vital for any person, as it helps “you to understand yourself better and help you contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.”
“Education is a powerful tool that can help in chancing the world,” he said and then assured them of his embassy’s continuous support.
