The second batch of 25 students selected for the Taiwanese government scholarship package are scheduled to leave for Taiwan on September 13th to study a special BSc elite degree programme in Information Technology at the National Taipei University of Technology, NTUT.

Addressing students at the initiation ceremony held at the Gambia National Petroleum Company office in Kanifing on Friday, the Taiwanese Ambassador to The Gambia, Dr. Patrick Chang, encouraged the students to work hard when they go to Taiwan, adding that that way they could help attain President Jammeh’s Silicon Valley objective. “The president has the development of this country at heart,” he said.

Musa Touray, Principal Higher Education Officer deputising for the Secretary of State for Higher Education, advised students to comport themselves well and serve as good ambassadors of The Gambia. He said that the students were selected by a special committee before being approved by the president.

Mr. Lamin Saho, the Principal Assistant Secretary at the Department of State for Communication and Information Technology, who also deputised for the department’s Secretary of State, described Information Technology as vital in the attainment of the Silicon Valley project.

The occasion, attended by Mr. Fafa Sanyang, Commissioner of Petroleum, was chaired by Mr. Mam Sait Ceesay, Press Officer Office of the President.

It could be recalled that in 2006, the first batch comprising 25 Gambian students were sent to Taiwan to pursue studies in Petroleum Engineering

In another development, Ambassador Chang last week donated three vehicles to the Department of State for Agriculture at a ceremony held in Banjul, and another vehicle to the women of Banjulinding.

In presenting the vehicles Ambassador Chang said the development of the agricultural sector would contribute to the attainment of food self sufficiency in the country.

Kanja Sanneh, the Secretary of State of Agriculture, thanked Ambassador Chang for the donation, adding that the vehicles would ease the problem of mobility at his department.