The National Patriotic Students’ Association (NAPSA), on Sunday, commemorated its seventh  anniversary. The celebration began with a march pass from Westfield to Nusrat Senior Secondary School in Bundung, where speeches were made, as part of activities marking the seventh anniversary celebration.

In his welcoming remarks, Modou Alieu Jallow, chairperson of NAPSA, said, every Gambian should work hard towards achieving our national goals, despite the size of our country.

“With determination and hard work, we can transform The Gambia into the silicon valley of Africa, as is always said by the President of the Republic Alh. Dr Yahya Jammeh.We should all come together despite our political differences to develop our country”, Mr Jallow told the gathering.

He reminded the students to rally behind president Jammeh and his government, for making education  accessible to every Gambian  as well as offering free education for girls, amongst others issues. He further revealed that NAPSA has recently concluded a nationwide tour of schools which was geared towards encouraging students to venture in farming activities during the rainy season,so as to help their parents, as well as to respond to the president’s back to the land call.

He highlighted some of the major achievements registered by NAPSA since he took over power as   chairperson of the association and called on the students to maintain high sense of discipline.

For his part, Hon Seedy Njie, nominated National Assembly Member, who also doubles as the deputy national coordinator of NAPSA, recalled that the students’ association was formed exactly on this day ,seven years ago, by some patriotic students and personalities in the country. He added that since its establishment, NAPSA has registered landmark achievements in the country’s development objectives.

“As we celebrate this day, we cannot afford to forget our partners, prominent among them, His Excellency Dr Alh.Yahya A.J.J  Jammeh.We say a big thank you to the President for the support he has been rendering to NAPSA since its inception.  NAPSA have nothing to give back to President Jammeh except  love, loyalty and continuous dedication to his government and the ideals of July 22nd revolution”, Hon. Njie noted.

“The mission of NAPSA as an association  is to partaner with government in national development. As patriots, we should all work hard towards achieving our country’s national goals. I therfore urged all the youths of this country to stop sitting in their vous and camps and work hard to make The Gambia the silicon valley of Africa”, The Gambia’s youngest parliamentarian told the students’ association.

Alieu Jammeh, deputy permanent secretary at the Department of State for Youths and Sports, said; “The attitude disposition capacity and necessary skills of young men and women of any social set-up, will determine the character of that society for the present and the future”.

“It is natural that the young will succeed the elderly to continue the process of evolution.  The youth should therefore be prepared and be assisted on the road to assuming the mantle of responsibility and leadership. Let me emphasize that education, health, agriculture, business, skills development and other development related issues, are available in abundance for any young man or woman who want to venture into any of the above mentioned sectors”, DPS Jammeh remarked. He called on the students to change their behaviours and work hard for the development of our country.

The anniversary celebration was graced by senior officials of the department of state for Basic and Secondary Education, Foreign Dipolmats, students, Army Band and others.