The City & Guilds of London Institute, on Friday March 30th, awarded Certificates and Medals of Excellence to three students of The Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI). The students are Lamin Jatta, Saihou Ceesay and Alieu Secka.

The ceremony was held at the school in Old Jeshwang.

In his keynote address, Dr Saidou Jallow, Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, said the quality of an effort to achieve a particular aim inspite of difficulties, perseverance completes the three attributes critical to success in any endeavour. He said academic programmes are generally long. Dr Jallow also stated that the recent pronouncement by His Excellency, President Jammeh, on the desire to change The Gambia into a “Silicon Valley” type of development pattern and the proposed Science Park, places further challenges to GTTI and other institutions involved in the training of technical and technological personnel.

He congratulated the gold medal winners for their outstanding performance and urged other GTTI students and students in other higher education institutions in the country to emulate these three students.

Mr. Asedou, Regional Representative of City and Guilds said, City & Guilds is a leading awarding body that provides a wide range of occupational qualifications throughout the world. “We are a registered charitable institution, established in the UK in 1878, to encourage education and training both in Colleges and Workplaces. We were awarded the UK Royal Charter in 1900 and our President is His Right Honorable Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh". Mr. Asedou further said that City & Guilds qualifications allow employers to reap the benefit of a highly-skilled, developed and motivated workforce and also employees benefit from confidence in their ability to perform tasks effectively.

In her remarks, Fatou Mbye, Director of GTTI used the occasion to thank everyone who in one way or the other contributed to the success of the award ceremony, particularly the exam body, City and Guilds. She called on the general public and private sector to contribute towards the development of the school.

At the end of the ceremony the awarded students were each given ten thousand (D10, 000) by the Managing Director of Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), and seventy thousand dalasis (D70, 000) to the Administration, for the construction of the Department and promised to be sponsoring the best students in GTTI every year. The Ceremony was attended by Fatou Lamin Faye, SoS for Secondary and Basic Education, Lecturers and Students of the School.