Chairperson
Honourable
Ministers here Present
Honourable
members of the National Assembly
The
Governor
The
Chairman, Gambia College Governing Council, Principal and Staff of The Gambia
College
Vice
Chancellor- University of The Gambia and Staff
The
Dutch Consular and Director MRC - Holland Foundation,
Local
Government Authorities, Chiefs, Alkalos and Venerable Religious Leaders present
Distinguished
Guests
Ladies
and Gentlemen
Students
of the College
I thank Allah, the Almighty for availing us the opportunity to witness the official opening of the Gambia College, School of Education Annex here in Basse, URR.
This is in fulfilment of one of our Constitutional mandates – Right to Educational opportunities and making Higher education accessible to all.
Furthermore,
education has been a key priority of my government, as clearly manifested in
the National Development Plan. We were
resolved to remedying the disadvantages that our people in rural Gambia have
suffered from in the past, when children had to abandon their parents in search
of college education in the Greater Banjul Area.
Since
I assumed the mantle of leadership of this country, my government has taken,
and continues to take concrete steps to make education, in general, and
tertiary and higher education, in particular, accessible. In the process, we found a willing partner,
The MRC-Holland Foundation who sponsored this great edifice. A little over a year ago, we gathered here
to lay the foundation stone of the first ever outreach campus of the Gambia
College.
This
educational annex, which will be inaugurated shortly, will also play a
significant part in reducing the rural-urban migration and by extension
immigration of our youths outside the country. The teachers who will graduate
from this annex, will stay here and provide our children with the quality
education they deserve. I assure you further that my government will continue
to bring development to the doorsteps of every Gambian.
As
a people, we must educate our children to guarantee their future and the
development of this nation. We cannot achieve this if we restrict access to
education.
As
a native of rural Gambia, I saw how people struggled for accommodation when
they first arrived in the Kombos to seek for better career opportunities. I am
proud that this project will contribute to alleviating such challenges.
Ladies
and Gentlemen, since my government built partnership with MRC-Holland, it has
become a formidable partner, and its immense contribution to the education
sector and nation building is highly appreciated.
Working
with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, the
Foundation started with the construction of classrooms and laboratories at the
Brikama Campus of the College to ease the congestion there, before starting
works at the Basse Annex.
Distinguished
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please
allow me to express gratitude of my government and the people of The Gambia to
Jan and Maureen, and Madam Hendriette Sonko who serves both as the Dutch
Counsellor and the Representative of the MRC-Holland Foundation in The Gambia.
Madam Sonko, we thank you and your philanthropic organisation most sincerely. We encourage you to continue the good work.
To
the people of Basse and its environs, I say: Thank you for providing the land
to build this Annex. This contribution to national development is laudable, and
will be remembered always.
For
the people of the Upper River and Central River Regions in general, I implore
you to embrace the opportunity provided for by this annex.
I
urge you to send your children to school to feed the annex with the required
number of students. It is through
education that children would realise their full potentials.
I
thank the donors, the governing council, management and staff of The Gambia
College, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and
Technology, for working tirelessly to make this occasion possible.
For
the enrolled students of this Annex, you are the pioneers and, consequently,
part of the history of this Annex.
I
urge you to take your studies seriously so that the motto of the college ‘Enter
to Learn Ready to Serve’ will be applicable to you and the communities you
served. As a government, we can build
the infrastructure, but a school is not an educational institution without
learners. This is why we all have a task to fulfill.
Distinguished
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
To
the people of Basse and its environs, here is your Annex. It is an educational institution you need to
nurture and protect for the youth of the day and the generations to come.
Governments come and go, but this legacy will continue to benefit families long
after we have gone.
I
urge that we give the College the utmost support to make this dream we have
today to grow into fruition.
To
The Gambia College Council, administrative staff and students, I must say that
our partners have played their role; yours starts from here. You must make sure that the facilities are
kept to the highest standards and, that, the quality of education delivered
here is of the highest standard.
I
urge you to continue to assert your full commitment and dedication to national
service. My government will endeavour to provide you with all the support
needed to sustain effective operations of this Annex.
Once
again, I urge the beneficiaries of these magnificent structures to keep them in
good condition so that our children and grandchildren can also use them.
I
now have the singular honour and privilege to officially inaugurate this Gambia
College Education Annex in Basse.
I
thank you all for your kind attention.
