Members of the newly elected executive council of the University of The Gambia Students’ Union (UTGSU), yesterday presented four bags of sorghum, being the proceeds realised from the farm they cultivated in Kanila, to the vice president.

The student executives were accompanied to State House by Jenung Manneh, acting University Registrar, and Ousman Badjie, the immediate past president of the students’ union.

Speaking at the meeting, the UTG registrar said they were at State House to present to the vice president the proceeds gained from the Union’s farm, last season. According to him, the fact that they were accorded audience by the vice president serves as a clear demonstration and commitment of the Gambian leader and the vice president towards the students’ welfare.

Ansumana Darboe, the current student president of the university, said in response to the Gambian leader’s back-to-the-land call, they had requested for a piece of land in Kanilai, and that for the past years they have been cultivating with the realisation of bumper harvests.

Darboe said that this move demonstrates their strong conviction and readiness to support the president in his endeavour to develop the country, especially in the education sector, and he added that they are aware of the numerous assistance the Gambian leader and his government have given and continue to give to students. He said that the sole objective of setting up the farm was to make sure that the returns from the sales of proceeds are put into a scholarship trust fund account set up by the Union.

Darboe expressed hope that though it might be small, their gesture would demonstrate appreciation of the president’s efforts to helping students. He thanked the secretary of state for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology, and the Kanilai Farm Managment for their support. He noted that the students’ farm in Kanilai will also serve  as a place for students to do their practicals.

Other speakers at the ceremony included, Ousman Badjie, the former president of UTGSU, Ousman Sonko, secretary of state for the Interior and Abdoulie Sallah, secretary to Cabinet.

In a similar engagement, executive members of the Armitage Ex-Pupils Association, accompanied by Alhagie Ganyie Touray, governor of Central River Region, and other senior officials from the Gambia Ports Authority, on Tuesday called on the vice president.

Speaking at that meeting, Assan Sallah, public relations officer of the association, said they were at State House to officially introduce the association to the VP and also to  adopt her as their honorary mother. Sallah briefed the vice president on the existence and membership of the association. According to him, they have been operating for years, and that they have a membership of about 200. Sallah added that the association members visit the school once every year, as part of their annual activities, during which they provide the school with some basic items, such as food condiments, hurricane lamps, and praying mats.

Sallah went on to say that recently, they presented the school with a musical set for the students to entertain themselves during weekends. PRO Sallah commended the Gambian leader for his support to the school, and the Gambia Ports Authority for their countless contributions towards the upkeep of the school. Ebrima Joof, principal of Armitage Senior Secondary School, thanked VP Njie-Saidy for granting them audience. Joof also thanked President Jammeh and his government for the support he renders to the pupils of Armitage, citing the Gambian leader’s recent donation of two brand new buses, two hundred and ten bags of rice and a sum of one hundred thousand dalasis.

Principal Joof singled out feeding as the major problem facing the school and its administration, appealing to the government to increase the school’s subvention. He disclosed that they consume five bags of rice every day. While calling on the government to reinstate the food supply, he commended the Gambia Ports Authority, Gamcel and other philanthropists for their support. Joof also called on other other institutions to assist the school in the provision of food items.

Alhagie Ganyie Touray, governor, CRR, also commended the government for the support they have been rendering to the school. However, he used the opportunity to appeal to the government for help in providing food. According to him, Armitage is an institution that is not easy to run and they need assistance.

For her part, VP Njie-Saidy thanked the members of the association for reviving the ex-pupils association. She used the opportunity to thank the Gambian leader and the government for complementing the efforts of the ex-pupils in ensuring that Armitage continues to exist. She also thanked the GPA, Trust Bank, Social Security, Housing and Finance Cooperation for their support to the school.

VP Njie-Saidy then put it to members of the association that they have very important roles to play and expressed her personal support and willingness to help the school. She used the meeting to urge all other ex-pupils to help the school. She expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring good and quality education.

VP Njie-Saidy, in accepting the honorary motherhood of the association, presented ten thousand dalasis (D10,000) and 4 gallons of cooking oil to them. Other speakers at the meeting included Dr Kujejatou Manneh, Kunkung Jorbateh and Lt. Colonel Sarjo Fofana. The ceremony was preceded by a presentation of certificates of appreciation to the vice president for accepting to be the mother of the association.