It is with great honor and privilege, that we are gathered here this morning to witness yet another historic day – Graduation and Inauguration ceremony of Sterling Technical Training Centre. This event, by all indications, is special and symbolic. . It is special in the sense that we are about to witness a ceremony that conferred certificates to our young Gambians having undergone skills training that aims to change their socioeconomic status and contribute meaningfully to national development. This is a happy moment for me and entire sterling technical training centre to preside over today’s graduation and inauguration ceremony.
Six years ago, when we conceived the idea of establishing a Training Centre, many at the time doubted that we will achieve what we are celebrating today but my team and I were very clear with the vision and the road map and we set a clear objective and stayed focus. I will praise God and extend gratitude to my great team and partners. I will be very unfair without acknowledging the support and unique opportunity that became a catalyst of change and turning that ambitious vision into reality, was when Mr Raimund Mosser and the Team believed in us when no one trust us and signed our first ever MOU in 2017. This was our turning point and we are indeed grateful.
I wish to inform this august gathering that, Sterling over the years expanded its operations across the country setting a two mobile training units in Bansang and Jangjangbureh and an annex campus at Basse to make TVET accessible to rural Gambians.
From 2019 to 2021, Sterling Technical Training Centre signed contracts with many partners among them are; University of the Gambia WASCAL Project to train 210 youths in solar pv system design, installation and maintenance, International Trade Centre through YEP and JSF project to train 140 youths and MOTIE/ EPSDP project to train 40 youths and other private students. In overall, today we are graduating 400 students: in 8 trade areas these includes Solar PV system installation, Satellite installation, Electronics Security System, Hair Dressing, tiling and plastering, vehicle diagnostic techniques and repair and aluminium fabrication and installation.
Our objectives as an institution premise on providing training on special skills that are reflective to the job market, creation of self-employment which we believed have a direct impact on reduction of unemployment and irregular migration.
Today we are happy and appreciating the fact that we have successfully implemented the contract entrusted to us by our partners. We are equally happy and confident to say that these young people that we trained over the years are striving tremendously in various sectors in the industry. In fact, these beneficiaries have even started operating meaningful enterprises across the country.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Sterling Technical Training Centre together with partners continued to support in building the capacity of our staff. We supported in upskilling our trainers and administrative staff, developed various quality assurance tools to ensure we continue to improve and provide our young customers the best of services and this will continue as we always aim to remain competitive and give our best to our trainees
I would be ungrateful without acknowledging the effort, commitment and dedication from my able board members, administrative staff and trainers. I can’t thank you enough.
I would like to acknowledge the present of my mother who is here to celebrate this success with us, Mummy thank you for guiding me on the right path and taught me a lesson that there is no short-cut to success and it can only be achieve through hard work.
As saying goes, every successful man there is a women behind it. Madam Teeda Njie Sillah I won’t say much and thank you for your support and I know the love is real.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to UTG/WASCAL through the DVC & WASCAL Director for their support, guidance and mentorship in ensuring that we deliver quality training for our beneficiaries.
We equally grateful to MOTIE/ EPSDP through the project manager for the trust, support and confident they have in us throughout these years.
To ITC as I stated early on, they picked us from nowhere and our partnership is growing from strength to strenght. Thank you to Mr. Raimund and the team.
Finally I would like to show appreciation to BMBF, European Union, UNDP, UNCDF and Government of the Gambia for providing the funding for the various projects.
To our graduates,
We know it wasn’t an easy journey, you stood the test of time, and you have made all of us here present proud. However, the real test begins as you leave the graduation Hall today. You are bound to face obstacles. But never give up, maintain your network, seek opportunities, and constantly remind yourself Gambia needs you to transform the country and alleviate poverty. In short, be ambassadors of change,
I would also like to remind you that trust and honest cost nothing and these are the two key drivers to success. one should jealously guide them in your path to success that will enable us to building on the past and present achievements, and extend the positive impact on the future of young people of the Gambia. The fact that no one believes in you today doesn’t mean someone will not believe in you tomorrow. Keep believing and keep working hard in your pursuit for success
Thank you all for your kind attention.
Graduation Photos
