In his welcome remarks, Acting Principal Paul Graham Addae acknowledged that it was a bittersweet moment for the school as it bid farewell to five hundred and fifty students after three years of nurturing them in academic excellence and discipline.
"But as the saying goes, ‘The old order change, yielding place to new,’ or else old customs will corrupt the world,” he reflected. “The world is a stage where everyone comes to play their part and then exits the scene, lest society becomes stagnant and decays. Despite the sadness in seeing this cohort move on, we firmly believe they are well prepared, equipped with a solid academic foundation and the essential tools to shape a prosperous future.”
The guest speaker, Dr Habibatou Drammeh Minister for Basic and Secondary Education and an alumna of the school delivered an inspiring address to the graduating class.
“Today, we gather not only to celebrate your achievements but also to honour your potential, the promise of what you will become,” she said. Reflecting on the theme of the occasion, “The Future Starts With Us,” Dr Drammeh urged students to view it not as a slogan, but a call to action.
“It is a reminder that the world you inherit tomorrow is shaped by the choices we make today. By saying ‘the future starts with us’, we claim ownership of tomorrow. This is not a passive statement, but a powerful declaration that each of you is ready to write your own story and together, the story of our nation and the world.”
The former UTG lecturer reminded the students that while their achievements are worth celebrating, this is only the beginning. “What truly matters is your untapped potential; the dreams yet to be fulfilled, challenges yet to be overcome, and contributions yet to be made. Every decision you take from this day forward shapes who you will become and the world you are helping to build. Choose kindness over indifference, curiosity over complacency, and courage over fear. These are the qualities that define the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. Dream boldly and act with integrity wherever life takes you,” she concluded.”
Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow, another alumnus of the school, served as Chief Guest of Honour. He too offered words of wisdom to the graduates, encouraging them to embrace the theme “The Future Starts With Us”.
“It is a vivid reminder that we are not just observers of the future—we are its architects,” VP Jallow said. “Each of you here holds a brick to lay toward the future.”
He praised Nusrat Senior Secondary School as a longstanding pillar of academic and moral excellence in The Gambia. “When I walked these corridors as a student, I never imagined that one day I would have the honour of serving my country at the highest level of public office. But that journey began right here just as yours is beginning now.”
He urged the graduating class to remain committed, reminding them that “the future does not begin tomorrow it begins today, grounded in the choices you make, the effort you commit, and the values you uphold. The future is not written in the stars. It is written in your notebooks, your attitude, and your actions.”
He concluded by encouraging the students to dream big and work even harder to turn those dreams into reality.
Other speakers included Amir Baba F. Trawally, Chairman of the School Board of Governors, and Ensa Njie, Chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association. The event was also attended by Honourable Sulayman Jammeh, National Assembly Member for Bundung, as well as distinguished alumni, parents, guardians, and students.
A beautifully performed drama by the Peer Health Group added a vibrant cultural touch to the celebration.
