The vice-president and secretary of states for Women’s Affairs, yesterday, received, in her office, a delegation of six officials from the Quantum Associates, at State House, Banjul. The Organisation Exchange Gambie Linousin Sante Education (EGALISE) also paid a courtesy on Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, in a separate engagement.

Speaking to journalists shortly after their audience with the vice-president, Yunusha Bah, the deputy managing director of Quantum Associates, said they briefed the vice-president and other members of the National Security Council about a new technology called the Global Positioning Systems (GPS), which he said was about to be launched.

"GPS is a system that helps people to locate a position of any object or asset on earth. It consists of 24 satellites and can help you to locate any object within range of 10-15 meters," he said.

Mr Bah confirmed that they had completed the installation of the system and had started inviting some potential users to look at the system. He added that the system would start full operation by the end this month.

According to him, they also used the opportunity to explain to the vice-president about all the different products they would be launching, saying that his company would continue to bring in more computers into the country. He described the reaction of the vice-president and other members of the National Security Council as positive.

"She expressed her office and The Gambia government’s continuous support to the cause," he concluded.

Also speaking to journalists after their audience with the vice-president, Thevenot Serge, the president of EGALISE, said their mission to State House was meant to inform the government about their areas of intervention in the country’s socio-economic development.

According to Mr Serge, who was accompanied to State House by the Alkalo of Siffoe, they were currently engaged in three main areas, namely health, education and agriculture. "Our people are working with the community of Siffoe in Western Region, in the area of fruit cultivation. We know this village produces a lot of fruits, especially mango. So our men are currently training these people how to make fruits jams and others. We also have in stock medicament worth over US$25,000 to help the people of this country," he said.

He revealed that an expert would be visiting The Gambia every month to provide counseling to the people, adding that all the expenses would be footed by the association.

At least 21 students recently completed their computer literacy course at the State Guards Computer Training Centre.

They successfully took courses in Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, DOS/Fundamental, Internet and File Management.

Five of the students obtained distinction, eight obtained credits and eight obtained pass mark and there were no fails.

They are the 7th batch of the training programme, which began in February 2002.

According to Corporal Sama, about 412 students drawn from the armed forces, sister services and civil society, have completed the training since its inception about five years ago.

He said, “The knowledge gained in this course must be shared with your friends who have not had the opportunity to undergo the course. As you graduate from this centre, I would advise you to maintain discipline, obedience, trustworthiness, hard work, dedication to duty and above all be citizens with exemplary characters.”

He thanked Quantum Associates for making the training programme a reality. He also thanked the management and staff of Air Tip for their generous support.

For his part, the Managing Director of Quantum Associates, Gibril Jibi Chorr, said his organisation was keen to improve the human capital of the country. “Quantum Associates corporate conviction is that the development of human capital is the foundation of our national development efforts as richly enshrined in Vision 2020 and we are proud to identify ourselves with your venture to modernize the service corps,” he said.

He added that in this 21st century, it is our ICT fitness that counts, not our physical and ability to read and write.

The Quantum Associates boss urged the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Gambia not only to protect the civilians but also to fight against ignorance. “If you win the battle against ignorance, you will be winning a bigger battle for The Gambia than you can ever do on any other battlefield,” he said.

According to the Secretary of State for Communication, Information and Technology, Mrs Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, the training was specific and efficient.

“What impresses me most about this programme, which is specific to the use of computers and basic software application is that you have built your own training capacity for sustainability within your domain, thus saving the government the recurrent cost of hiring instructions to run this programme,” she said.

Three brand new Pentium Internet ready computers were donated to the State Guard Computer Centre.

The Managing Director of Quantum Associates, Mr. Gibriel Chorr, has echoed his institution’s commitment to joining the march towards the realization of President Jammeh’s Silicon Valley dream of transforming The Gambia into an enviable nation-state.

He added that Quantum Associates would contribute towards the achievement of this lofty dream by providing employable skills to youths of The Gambia to enable them participate meaningfully in national development efforts.

Mr. Chorr was speaking in a graduation ceremony for 18 people that completed training in Quantum’s Summer Class of 2007.

“I was amazed by the level of intelligence and dedication shown by these students whom, as I speak, are in the middle of their projects and, in a few months’ time, we will be parading them as programmers who would have distinguished themselves and developed a profession such that they will not have to work for anyone else and would not go hungry again for the rest of their lives,” he stated.

Mr. Chorr finally expressed delight in the students for the successful completion of their courses as well as commending them for the effort and success.

Eighteen students from Quantum Associates were on Friday certified after successfully completing a three-month summer training on Information Technology (IT), at a ceremony held at its Head Office in Kanifing.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gibril Jibi Chorr, Managing Director of Quantum Associates, said his association has always been convinced that the development of human capital from a very young age is the foundation of national development and all efforts must be made to continue to nurture young and brilliant minds like the graduates to better prepare them to take over the reins of leadership.

He then urged the graduates to make good use of the knowledge gained from the training.

“You graduate today, not only as a testimony of youth competence in computers, but also as new members of the Quantum family. I would like to congratulate you for your efforts and success. I am confident that you will put your new knowledge into good use and share it with your colleagues”, he said.

For his part, Yunusa Bah, Deputy Managing Director, Quantum Associates reminded the graduates of several challenges ahead of them, saying “there is a lot more ahead and it is not only this”. 

He then revealed that the students came at a time when they were not able to do anything, but they had managed to do their level best to teach them the best.

At the end of the ceremony, the students were awarded certificates.

Sirah Jobarteh and Abigail Janet gave the vote of thanks, whilst Binta Touray chaired the ceremony.