Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at GAF headquarters in Banjul, Col. Hina Sambou, Director of Administration at the GAF, expressed happiness about the gesture.
He thanked Mr Secka for choosing GAF for the valuable donation, adding that the podium is good for his institution as they normally have occasions for which they need the podium to enhance their programmes.
Sambou called on all Gambians to emulate the donor for his kind gesture, whom he said is contributing to national development. He also assured the donor that the podium will be put into good use.
For Captain Lamin K. Sanyang, Public Relations Officer of GAF, since every civilian can be a soldier, such a gesture is good to promote civil-military relationship.
For his part, Sheikh Tijan Secka, the donor, congratulated the armed forces for their good job as they protect and savelives of people, while appealing to all Gambians to contribute to the work of the armed forces.
Receiving the podium at the RVTH, Mustapha Mbye and Fatou Nyabally also applauded the donor for supporting them.
They assured the donor that the podium will go a long way in assisting them during their occasions.
Sheriff Sarr, councillor of old Jeshwang Ward, described the donor as a hardworking man, saying that was not the first time the donor had given to government institutions.
“This can cost a lot of money but the donor decided to give it out to the RVTH and others as part of his contribution to national development,” he said.
At the UTG in Brikama, Dr Omar Jah, deputy vice chancellor of the UTG, described the gesture as timely, saying the university is for everybody it was conceived to avail opportunity to all Gambians.
He said the university was in need of the podium and they spend lot of money on podium because “it gives dignity and honour to presenters”.
He also thanked the donor and assured him that they would make good use of the podium.
Speaking earlier, Jenun Manneh and Morro Krubally, both staff of the UTG, hailed the gesture, while thanking the donor for his contribution towards the development of the country.
For Sheikh Tijan Secka, the donor, he is doing this because he believes that as a citizen “one has to contribute to the development of his or her country”.
