Trust Bank Gambia Limited, one of the leading banks in the country, has once again demonstrated its corporate social responsibility by awarding the top ten students who did extremely well in the Grade 9 WAEC results.
The ceremony, in which certificates and other materials like laptops, mobile phones and cheques were given as awards, was as part of the bank’s Annual Excellence in the Millennium Award programme.
The presentation of certificates was done by the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education at the function attended by school principals, parents, guardians and government officials, as well as senior Trust Bank staff.
Chaired by Dodou Nyang, senior marketing manager of Trust Bank, the event was held at the Laico Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
The ten awardees were Eliana Jarju, of St. Peters Upper Basic School, Amadou Jallow of SOS Hermann Gmeiner Upper Basic School, Abdourahman Bah of Brufut Upper Basic School, Haddijatou Jah of Gambia Methodist Academy, Tuty Kujabi of Ndow’s Comprehensive, Kawsu Jitteh of Ndow’s Comprehensive, Jainaba Sonko of St. Therese’s Upper Basic School, Derek Oduro Asiamah of Gambia Methodist Academy, Abubaccar Jarju of Jamisa Upper Basic School and Amie A. Jammeh of Ndow’s Comprenehesive.
Ndow’s Comprensive School that had the highest number of successful students in the programme received certificate and D20,000 as a way of encouraging the school to continue to impart sound knowledge in students.
Pa Macoumba M. Njie, Trust Bank Managing Director, expressed delight at the success of the 11th edition of the Trust Bank Excellence in the Millennium Award presentation to the most outstanding students of the Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination for 2013.
“At Trust Bank, we remain passionately committed to the promotion of quality education as a prerequisite to national development,” MD Njie said.
“As such, the Excellence Awards comes to recognize and motivate students for their outstanding performances.”
He announced on behalf of the board, management and staff of Trust Bank Limited that the ten recipients of their Excellence in The Millennium Awards would receive a certificate of excellence, a prize sum of D5,000 in the form of Trust Bank Student Accounts and a brand new rlg laptop for each student.
He said that in addition, Trust Bank also decided to give as an award a certificate of excellence and D20,000 to the school with the highest number of awardees.
The managing director further commended the students on these well-deserved awards and encourages them to continue to work hard in their subsequent programme of study.
“We want to recognize the invaluable role played by principals and teachers, as well as parents and guardians for providing the much-needed support to these students,” he said.
Mr Njie went further to recognize the tremendous efforts of the department of state for Basic and Secondary Education and all stakeholders in the national pursuit for excellence in education and seized the opportunity to reaffirm their bank’s commitment to partner with government and other stakeholders to fulfill their role in the key areas of health, education, the environment and sport.
The Trust Bank MD further stated that Trust Bank’s contribution to the health sector was recently boosted with a donation of 10 new computers to the Sulayman Junkung Hospital in Bwiam, to help facilitate the newly launched community-based Medical Programme being pioneered by the Cuban Medical Practioners.
“This followed our longstanding cooperation with the Rotary Club in their effort to build a fully equipped science lab for the benefit of Senior Secondary Schools in the Greater Banjul Area,” he said.
“We have so far committed D1.54 million on this laudable initiative and have been informed of the project imminent completion.”
In addition, he said, Trust Bank makes annual donation to schools at speech and prize giving days, including the convocation ceremony of the University of The Gambia.
According to him, the Excellence in the Millennium Award shows the bank’s commitment to excellence in strengthening partnership with their bank’s continued resolve to strengthen partnership with the department of state for education to providing quality education for development.
He further noted that these and many other contributions in the area of health, the environment and sport would continue to show Trust Bank’s pleasure in giving back to the communities they serve.
He seized the opportunity to thank the hardworking students, teachers, parents and wardens for their outstanding performance and also challenges and encourages them to continue to strive for better results in their Grade 12 programs.
Hon. Fatou Lamin Faye, Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, expressed appreciation with Trust Bank management, while presiding over the prestigious event in the calendar of the Bank’s invaluable supporting to the education sector.
She said the award ceremony was a clear demonstration of the importance Trust Bank attaches to its corporate social responsibility in complementing government’s effort at providing quality education for all.
She therefore registered her profound gratitude to the management for this laudable initiative which has been sustained over a good period of time.
According to the minister, it is common knowledge that education is a tool for sustainable development and a means to eradicating poverty; therefore, any effort aimed at the attainment of its goals should not be underestimated or undervalued.
She further noted that her ministry is poised not only to increasing access to education but also to improving the quality of education it offers to its student populace.
“An education that would be child friendly, gender sensitive and inclusive settings and taught by highly trained and professional teachers is our aim, which shall be pursued at all costs,” she said.
“We further believe that our quality is the guiding principle for education provision, as it influences what students learn, how well they learn and what benefits they draw from their education,” she added.
The ministry, she went on, therefore continues to ensure that students achieve decent learning outcomes, and acquire values and skills that help them play a positive role in society.
According to the minister, Trust Bank Limited has once again lived up to its corporate social responsibility and this indeed was beyond measures for they had demonstrated this responsibility by making positive contribution to national development through supporting a wide range of educational initiatives.
She said the support provided to the educational sector by Trust Bank has only complemented the efforts of government in creating increased access to education, particularly at the level of secondary education but has also helped in accelerating the rates of retention and performance of students in schools.
According to her, the ministry was very encouraged by such meaningful partnership which has brought a lot of impact on a range of intervention in the provision of quality and relevant education for all.
Such partnerships would represent opportunities to mobilize indigenous and sustainable support for scaling up local implementation of education sector programme, she stated.
She also commended the awardees on their enviable performance but also urged them to maximally utilize the support being provided under this scheme as it opens a critical path in their lives as students towards sustainable development and poverty reduction.
