The formal awarding ceremony was held at the MoHERST Conference Hall in Bijilo. The students will be pursuing two years research-based Master’s programme in the areas of agribusiness and fisheries.
Speaking on behalf of the Higher Education Minister, Professor Pierre Gomez, Dr Yusupha Touray, the Permanent Secretary for MoHERST, said that the initiative was part of the transformation that his ministry is undertaking to build centers of Excellence in Technical and Vocational training in The Gambia.
“We have identified two major programmes, which are agriculture and fisheries and we are building a center of excellence in both agribusiness and fisheries,” he said.
“We know very well that if we are going to build such a center, you have to have the right human resource to teach and manage those centers. So we decided that before we even start building, we send these people and before we will finish the construction, they would have been back home and serve as lecturers and managers of those centers,” he added.
He revealed that out of 10 students, seven students were awarded the scholarship for the studies, while one declined.
“We have also sent initial 10 students to Malawi to study, with some are studying in the area of fisheries and business.”
He revealed that the awardees were selected through a scholarship board after making arrangements with their Turkish counterparts.
Fatoumata Bakayoko, who spoke on behalf of the students, thanked MoHERST for the opportunity given to them. She further applauded Minister Pierre Gomez, whom she described as someone hardworking and committed to his national duty.
She further assured MoHERST, saying that “we are going to do what is expected of us and come back and serve The Gambia to the best of our abilities.”
