The President, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Babili Mansa has received two accolades dedicated to him by Gambians for his continues support and dedication to humanity and development.
Received on his behalf by the Vice President and Women’s Affairs Minister, Her Excellency Dr. Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy at State House yesterday, Ansumana B Bojang, the president of the University of the Gambia Students’ Union dedicated an award of “Student Activist of the Year 2016” to President Jammeh. Bojang won the award at the 5th All African Students Union Summit in Accra, Ghana in August this year.
The Colony of Bees Services Centre in Banjulinding also presented a certificate of appreciation to the President and some gifts for his support.
Receiving the Student Award 2016, VP Njie-Saidy called on young people to be always proud of President Jammeh for the environment he provided for them to excel. “What make a good university are not the structures but the quality of lecturers, materials and students and UTG has got those standards,” she said.
While congratulating Bojang for the award and expressing appreciation for dedicating it to President Jammeh, she maintained that the Gambian leader will value and appreciate the award, particularly coming from a youth.
Ansumana for his part said: “We appreciate President Jammeh’s support to Gambians and the UTG at all times.” He said President Jammeh has extended numerous supports to the development of UTG, saying if the university’s students can compete internationally and win awards, it shows that the President’s efforts are paying dividend.
Dr. Abubacarr Senghore and Dr Fatou Lamin Faye, ministers of Higher Education and Basic and Secondary Education both congratulated Bojang for winning the award through a highly competitive process.
“UTG is today making successes and making every Gambian proud. President Jammeh continues to maintain his dedication to direct The Gambia on the path of success,” Minister Senghore said.
Minister Faye said the opportunities provided to young people by the Jammeh administration are abound. She said President Jammeh has always maintained efforts to pave the way for the success of young people.
Professor Mustapha I.A Khalil, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the UTG said President Jammeh has placed the university as a world class university that continues to touch the hearts and minds of Gambians. “This award is an indication that UTG can compete anywhere internationally,” he said.
Colony of Bees Service Centre
During the presentation of the certificate of appreciation, VP Njie-Saidy said beekeeping has been in existence in The Gambia for a long time but was not seen as a viable business venture. She said the enterprise was also not making much progress because beekeepers were operating apart without a national coordinating body.
“With more Gambians engaging in beekeeping today, we hope to see that beekeepers set up a bee industry in the nearest future,” she said.
She described President Jammeh as a leader with action, saying he is always committed to paving the way for Gambians to venture into meaningful enterprises to develop themselves and the country. “He has The Gambia at heart with always strong pursuit for peace and progress of the country,” she said.
Mam Sillah and Kairaba Fatty, production officer and director of the Association both said they awarded the certificate to President Jammeh with pride and heartfelt appreciation for every support he has extended to them.
They, however, appealed to the President to continue supporting them, saying they still have constraints in the areas of packaging, expansion of operation to the rest of the country and mobility.
Fatty said: “Our approach is centered on discouraging the ‘backway’ syndrome by creating jobs in the country.”
Dr. Abubacarr Senghore and Dr. Fatou Lamin Faye both commended the Association for the foresight.
Ousman Rambo Jatta, Permanent Secretary 3 at the Office of the President encouraged the beekeepers to maintain their efforts to make beekeeping a good business in the country. “This is a worthy venture and with time, you will make serious changes,” PS Jatta said.
Dr. Duto Sainey Fofana, Landing B Sanneh and Landing Korteh, director of the Department of Livestock Services, general manager of NEDI and president of the Colony of Bees Service Centre, respectively, commended President Jammeh for his dedication and support to Gambians to become economically empowered.
Fofana and Sanneh both assured the Association of their offices’ strong support to stand with them to make beekeeping a huge business enterprise in the country.
by Amadou Jallow