The
15th Executive Council of the University of The Gambia Science Students
Association and The Gambia Standard Bureau, Monday held a seminar at the regional
education office in Brikama, in celebration of science week.
The
theme of the celebration was: Revolutionising Science in the Society to
Mitigate Contemporary Issues.
The
Gambia Standards Bureau was established by the government of The Gambia through
an Act of the Parliament in 2010. It started operations in October 2011. The
Bureau is overseen by a Board of Directors which is currently chaired by an
independent private individual. Its membership is specified in the Act and is
composed of representatives of government, consumers, private sector and
academia.
Chairperson
of the science week, Isatou O. Jah said, “Science is valued by society because
the application of scientific knowledge helps to satisfy many basic human needs
and improve living standards.”
She
added that the science week wouldn’t have been a success without the help of
The Gambia Standard Bureau in leading a standardised institute in promoting
industrial growth and consumer welfare.
During
presentation, the two sides discussed the three pillars used in maintaining an
industrial growth and consumer welfare.
Muhammed
Njie, standard officer at The Gambia Standard Bureau, said the benefits of
standards in today’s generation is numerous because standards are the backbone
of the society, ensuring the safety and quality of products and services,
facilitate international trade and improving the environment in which we live
in.
Ngenarr
Njie of Standards Bureau said they always try to ensure that the products sent
to them for inspection comply with specified requirements of standards and
other normative documents. “But we don’t have an accredited laboratory,” she
said, adding that they send their products to countries that have accredited
labs to test their goods and add the report in the conformity reports.
