The convocation, which witnessed the passing-out of students from various field of studies, forms an important milestone in the country’s quest in educating and training it youth on life skills to partake in national development.
Addressing a well-attended event, President Barrow said the event marks another spectacular milestone in the history of education in The Gambia, noting that it also marks an important calendar in the lives of the graduates and their families, as well as the University of The Gambia (UTG) and Gambia at large.
The ceremony, he added, also symbolises the dedication and determination of the youths to uplift themselves and their families by carving out careers and building on their past glories through academic pursuits.
To that end, President Barrow stressed that sustainable development implies working progressively to persistently meet the current and emerging needs of society, without compromises on the optimal advancement of future generations.
Also speaking, Professor Herbert Robinson, vice-chancellor of UTG, said his vision is to transform UTG into an outstanding tertiary institution.
“The UTG has evolved from inspiration to impact, and today we are redoubling our efforts with a view to securing the long-term sustainability of the University and to leapfrog into the digital future.”
He added, “Universities all over the world focus on three major objectives – to educate students, to produce knowledge and to apply the knowledge produced to inform teaching and to facilitate development through socio-economic and environmental transformation, working with various stakeholders such as Government, private sector, and development partners,”
The UTG VC reiterated that it is therefore important to realign the core objectives of the University of The Gambia to put more emphasis on: supporting teaching and learning, supporting research – to inform teaching and enhance the learning experience of students.
He added that applying research through knowledge transfer and innovation is an important part of development since it entails formulating policies based on research to meet societal needs in sectors like health, education, and agriculture. Policy development must be contextualised and based on current evidence of what works.
Kebba Secka, a computer science graduate, who doubled as the valedictorian, thanked his family and others sources of support and also urged his fellow graduates and students to keep thriving and never relent.
