The University of The Gambia on Saturday, March 5th staged a colourful convocation ceremony, the 14th since its inception, at the QCity complex in Bijilo, where a total number of 1134 students were conferred relevant degrees.
The President of the Republic His Excellency Adama Barrow is the chancellor of the University and in his convocation speech, themed: National Unity, Patriotism and Nation Building, he hailed the graduands for successfully completing their courses to earn a degree, describing the moment as a special occasion and a significant turning point for the graduating class and their families, friends, and the nation as a whole.
He noted that since its inception in 2000, the UTG has guided and left lasting imprints on the minds of many young Gambians; most of whom, he attested, continue to contribute to the development of the country.
On the significance of education, the chancellor said it must be at the centre of efforts to moderate behaviour, change attitudes and contribute positively to national development and peaceful coexistence. “In the process, it is imperative that we value and sustain the noble tenets of good governance, democracy and the rule of law. All these make it necessary to recognise education as a basis for national development,” he added. He posited that institutions of higher education contribute most significantly to character building, besides producing the trained and educated bulk of a country’s workforce.
He attested to the fact that many graduates of the University act as agents of development, and “show strength of character, generate creative ideas and have positive mindsets”.
The President expressed his government’s commitment to providing accessible quality education country-wide. A key objective for taking this approach, he asserted, “ is to break the existing social and economic barriers that hinder progress and quality living conditions. Another major objective, of course, is to enable the youth to realise and unleash their full potential”.
Abdou Rahman Barry is the valedictorian for this year’s graduation. He said the journey was tough but worth it and described this batch of graduates as the most resilient; in the sense that they are graduating in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, having gone through the harsh impact of the pandemic.
While commending the government for providing scholarship to many students, Mr Barry appealed for university authorities to make the tuition fee more affordable, as well as make internet and other relevant facilities widely accessible and affordable to the students.