At a ceremony attended by top government brass, UN
agencies’ representatives, stakeholders and the awardees, Ebrima Cham, a senior
planner at the Department of Planning received best mentor award of 2012, held
at Sunwing Hotel in Kololi.
Other recipients of the award included Medical Research Council for distinguished employer of the year award, NAWEC forbeing the public sector employer of the year and Finish profile BV also the employer of the year, among others.
In presenting the award to the winner, Abdou Touray, who was nominated to deliver the award on behalf of the National Training Authority (NTA), said the initiative was meant to recognise the efforts of those members who have during the year worked very hard for the development of young people.
“This initiative would encourage the staff and members of the authority to work extremely hard for the advancement of NTA,” Mr. Touray remarked, saying “The award this year has clearly testified Mr. Cham’s commitment and dedication to duties in national development.
He urged other members to emulate the likes of Mr. Ebrima Cham, while congratulating him for his achievement.
The recipient of the award, Mr. Ebrima Cham, who expressed delight at the gesture, said he was surprised to be the chosen one.
Noting that he never thought he was going to be awarded the best mentor of the year, Cham, said “I thought the award was going to someone else, but to my surprise I heard my name called that the award was going to me.”
He used the opportunity to thank the government and his Director, Mr. Abba Sankareh for his hard work and continuous support. According to him, the planning unit has been receiving interns for the past years.
He said most of the interns attached to the department ended up being appointed, as according to him, they are normally capacitated to work competently in their areas of expertise.
Noting that the NTA apprenticeship and industrial training policy is designed to link in-school training with on the job training programme, Cham said, the trainees are afforded the opportunity to have an insight into the practical applications of their skills in the industry.
