The event was graced by parents, principals, teachers and students as it marked Trust Bank’s 19th edition of Excellence Millennium Awards Presentation Ceremony.
Each of the 10 students was awarded D15,000, a tablet and certificate of excellence.
Other awards included D20,000 to the school that produced the candidate with the best results, D25, 000 to the school with the highest number of awardees and D10, 000 to the most outstanding student.
The award was part of Trust Bank’s corporate social responsibility and their commitment to providing an atmosphere for schools and school children to compete and strive for excellence in education.
Beneficiary schools include Gambia Methodist Academy, Anne Marie Javohey, Sukuta Wannsee Upper Basic School, St. Therese’s Upper Basic School, Mansa Colley Bojang Upper Basic School and New Life Upper Basic School.
Speaking at the occasion, Njilan Senghore, the managing director of Trust Bank, indicated that the students have demonstrated willingness by going above and beyond what was expected of them, while showing that they have the skills and determination to make an impact.
MD Senghore encouraged the awardees to continue to challenge themselves, embrace new experiences and ideas and to never lose sight of their goals.
She revealed that out of the total of 27,402 candidates that sat the exams, 59% were females and 41% males. 41 students scored aggregate 6 of which 23 are girls and 18 are boys including the top 10 awardees.
She said that there has been a remarkable increase of 10 students with aggregate 6 for 2023 compared to 31 registered in 2022.
For her part, Mrs. Claudiana Cole, the minister for Basic & Secondary Education who delivered the keynote speech applauded the bank for its “sustainable partnership.”
She noted that it takes seriousness to be able to reach where the awardees have reached, adding that there are many steps to climb. She encouraged the students to develop the right attitudes, adding that one would never rise without the right attitudes. She stated that her ministry’s policy is to promote equitable education.
For his part, Muhammed Jabbi, the outgoing chair of the Conference of Principals, commended the Bank and awardees, while urging them to develop positive attitudes and to abstain from the use of illicit drugs which have negatively affected many young people.
He urged The Gambia government to effectively control the borders in stopping the importation of drugs into the country. He said that most of the children are using drugs which are harming them.
