If the achievements registered by the project “Operation Promote Excellence in the Sciences”, initiated by President Jammeh, are any guide, then the initiative has been a success since its launch in 2006 by The Gambia Ports Authority.

In an interview with The Point, Mr. Ousman M. Jobarteh the GPA Director of traffic and operation, revealed that the project aims to raise funds for assistance towards the development of science teaching and education from the primary, secondary and tertiary levels in The Gambia. According to Mr. Jobarteh, the funds are being utilised to accord assistance to various projects including the erection of a perimeter wall at Gambia Senior Secondary School, refurbishment of laboratories and female Dormitories at Armitage Senior Secondary School, the purchase of 25 KVA Generator set for Kinderdorf Brottrop, Award to Gambia Technical Training Institute Construction Department; Annual awards of 17 scholarships to science students at University of The Gambia; and paint works at St Augustine Senior Secondary School . He added that this will go along way in contributing towards transforming The Gambia into the Silicon Valley of Africa by guaranteeing that the country possesses adequate and appropriate technicians in the science curricula.

According to Mr. Jobarteh, the GPA is partnering with the Senegalese Jollof Band Viviane to raise funds. The proceeds are being use to rehabilitate the physics, chemistry and biology labs at Armitage Senior Secondary, School.