King’s Kid Academy International School, on Saturday, certificated 31 outstanding graduates during the school’s end of term party held at the school grounds at Lamin Village in the Kombo North District.

King’s Kid Academy was founded in 1997 by a missionary, Reverend E Dennis Ejila, with the aim of providing affordable and quality early childhood education to children from the ages of three years and above.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rev E Dennis Ejila underscored some of the achievements the school has registered, pointing out the qualified teachers from the university whose techniques and experience have enabled the school to give quality and standard education to the children.

According to him, the school’s main source of income comes from the school fees paid by parents and other petty levies.  

He further went on to praise good Samaritans, who have contributed immensely by providing sponsorship to the most needy students, as well as providing cash donations and educational materials.  

He also used the opportunity to appeal to the donors to give more support to complete the construction of classrooms.

For his part, Mbemba Bojang, the Alkalo of Lamin Village said he was impressed by the speeches delivered by the students, adding that, it gives a clear testimony of the quality of education the school provides.  

He thanked the school administrator for the dedication and hardwork and finally urged the parents and guardians to support the school in their drive to improve the welfare of the school,. He also thanked The Gambia government for providing a conducive environment for learning.
The occasion was attended by a good number of parents and well wishers.

A lucrative sponsorship package that will see Sport House sponsor the Banjul knock-out competition for the next five seasons has been sealed.

The Banjul Sports Committee has entered into an agreement with the popular Sports House who will pay a total of D35, 000 (thirty-five thousand dalasis) each season as the package as the sole sponsor of the knock-out competition that is played alongside the Western Union sponsored league competition.

Ebou Faye, secretary general of Banjul Sports Committee said the from this season, Sports House will provide D15, 000 for knock-out winners, D10, 000 for runners up and another D10, 000 for administrative cost.

He said the sports firm will also provide a trophy for the winners, sets of jerseys for the two finalists amongst others.

Faye revealed that deal is real boost for the sports committee, noting that it will go a long way in ensuring the on-going sports development in the city.

Nuru Din Islamic School (NDIS) under UMMUL Quran Foundation, last Saturday held its 4th graduation ceremony for the outgoing Grade 9 and 12 students, at a ceremony held at the School ground in Faji Kunda.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Principal of Nuru Din Islamic School, Aji Oumie Cham revealed that the Foundation was established in 1996. "Founded by the Late Alhagie Mustapha Lowe, currently the school has an enrollment of 826 students of which 375 are girls and 445 are boys", She said. Compared to 2006\2007 academic year, the current enrollment of 730 students shows an increment in the enrollment of an additional 96 students, representing 11% of the current school enrollment in the 2007\2008 academic year,she said.

She pointed out that the school is a Basic Cycle School with the lower, upper and senior component, " The lower sector operates 11 classes with grades 1-6, the upper sector operates 3 classes that is grades 7-9 and the senior sector operates 3 classes that is grade 10-12. I am grateful to Allah that the performances of all the sectors were extremely good, compared to the performance of many Arabic  schools.

Mrs Cham pointed out that in Grade Twelve, 14 students sat to the certificate exams and they all registered 100% passes with no failure. In Grade Nine. She went on that , 25 students passed with 3 failures. She noted that this is the first time that her students are sitting to the national AMANA certificates exams, which was done in June 2008 and they are now waiting for the results.

Speaking earlier,the guest speaker of the occasion, Sheikh Omar Quraish who is also one of the founding fathers of the Foundation, highlighted the achievements that has been registered by the school, since its establishment. He said the Foundation offered sponsorship for 16 students to pursue the diploma course in Qatar and united emirates. He observed that one can’t be a leader without good educational background, ‘either in English or Arabic.

He therefore urged the Graduants to keep up the momentum, in order to be among those who will pursue their degree in the university through the sponsorship scheme.

The school’s drama group also entertained the audience.

Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort and Spa on behalf of UNICEF will on Saturday organise a charity drive fundraising event called Ride For Life at 09.00 a.m. at the traffic lights  of Kairaba Avenue.

According to reports from Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort and Spa, Riders are permitted to start-off at Senegambia junction and all child participants can start-off at Brufut Round-about. Reports also dicclose that there will be assistance at all points.

Refreshment stands, reports add, will be posted along the route to quench the riders’ thirst.  The organisers assure participants that police escorts will be provided at all points by the Gambia Police and medical emergency personnel.

“To all companies and individuals that have been approached for sponsorship, we would like to remind you that we are all partners in our goal to offer a beacon of hope to the vulnerable, disenchanted and disenfranchised children of the world.  Together, we can say "NO!" to poverty and change lives.

The Gambia as a nation has benefited from proceeds of Sheraton Group Hotels fundraising campaigns and Check Out For Children activities long before the opening of Sheraton Gambia.  As conscientious and caring citizens, we now have the opportunity to experience that glow of pride and feel especially proud of our own personal contributions towards UNICEF programs.

As your partners,  we are convinced that your generous support and unflinching endorsement of the Check Out for Children Challenge 2008 will guarantee a resounding success”.

The Seven Days Adventist Ebenezer Educational Centre (SDAEEC), on Thursday, held its graduation and annual speech and prize giving ceremony for its Nursery, Junior and Senior Secondary School, at a colourful ceremony held at the school premises in New Jeshwang.

Speaking at the occasion, Hon. Haddy Nyang-Jagne, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Jeshwang constituency, who was also the guest speaker of the occasion, noted that, graduation ceremonies are meant to reward students for years of academic success, adding that, it also marks the day when students are prepared to face and overcome the future challenges.

She advised students to be worthy ambassadors of the school, as they are graduating with all the basic academic knowledge. According to her, the school has already laid a solid foundation that will no doubt prepare them enough to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.  “You have to lived up to expectation, and you have made your parents and the school which gave you knowledge, to become proud of you,’’ She stressed. Honourable Jagne, a former teacher, who taught for six years at the school, lauded the move made by the SDA in giving girls education a priority in the school, noting that it is in line with President Jammeh’s quest to empower girls education.

While assuring them of her unflinching support to the school, Hon. Haddy Nyang-Jagne hailed the school for its teacher capacity building initiative.

Delivering his annual speech, Prosper Pinpim, principal of SDA Senior Secondary School, said his centre aims to bring quality education to the doorsteps of the community, especially girls, noting that since the inception of the school, there has always been a greater number of females to male students. This, he said, attest sto the fact that girls’ education is their first priority.

Mr Pinpim disclosed that his centre is known for its numerous sponsorship packages, and as such, he went on, the centre is currently sponsoring over 250 students. He added that the centre can now boast of over 1400 students compared to 100 students when it started operations in 1983. Highlighting some of the projects in the school, Principal Pinpim said that the school owns two computer centres for both the staff and the students.  “The school has also put in place an internet cafe service, grocery for students, teachers, workers, as well as the general public”, he revealed.

Considering the welfare of the students from the provinces, who might find it difficult to have guardians to stay with in the urban areas, Mr Pinpim noted that his centre will soon address that situation, adding that two blocks (storey buildings) are currently under construction, to house at least 200 girls in the centre.

Mr Pinpim appealed to the parents to enrol their children in the school. He used the occasion to commend Pastor EP Smith, director of SDA mission station, for his support to the school, and also the partnership program between his centre and The Gambia project group, as well as Tarmworth and Lichfield College in UK, respectively.

Badou Jack, the sole Gambian boxer bound for the Beijing Olympic Games participated in Germany’s Chemistry Cup as his first international warm up event before the August Olympics.

Badou was sponsored by the Anglo-Gambian sports project, Plymouth-Banjul Challenge, through the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC).

“We sought sponsorship for Badou to take part in the Germany competition because he is a great boxer,” GNOC deputy executive director Lawrence Bruce told gambisports.gm.

“We have high hopes in Badou,” he added.

Boxers from all the continents took part in the five-day event held in the German city of Halle from June 18 to June 22.

In the 75kg category Badou made it to the quarter-final where he lost on points to local favourite Kevin Künzel.

Despite an unusually early exit for the 24-year-old former Swedish and European champion, Olympic authorities in his adoptive country are determined to further support their solo boxer for Beijing.

“We are also planning for Badou to take part in another international competition in Spain before the Beijing Olympics,” Bruce disclosed.

Badou sealed his place in the summer Olympic Games after winning all his bouts at the African qualifiers held in Namibia last March, a few months after he changed his Swedish nationality in order to compete for the Gambia.

Badou had planned to visit the Gambia last April, nearly eight years since his only ever trip, but his intentions were not realized.

“Unfortunately, after his plans failed in April, there isn’t much time left to bring Badou home before the Olympics, but it won’t be long after the Beijing Games before Gambians finally get to see and appreciate him,” Bruce explained.

On behalf of the GNOC the deputy executive director thanked Plymouth-Banjul Challenge for sponsoring Badou’s participation in the Germany competition.

“The best way to motivate Badou Jack to do well for the Gambia is to ensure that he gets the best preparation for the Beijing Games, hence the importance of the support of Plymouth-Banjul for which the GNOC is immensely grateful,” Bruce concluded.

Culled from Gambiasports.gm

The other day, on the country’s national television, GRTS, a prospective Swedish investor was heard praising The Gambia for the enormity of its development potentials.

The businessman went on to argue that the country was capable of representing the rest of the continent in the international arena. In fact, this was not the first time Gambians were hearing complimentary remarks like that. However, reference is being made to it as a means of interpreting the basis of the latest revelation from the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh, which came just hours before the remark by that Swedish businessman.  

Shortly after his plane touched down, on his return from the 34th edition of the ECOWAS heads of state and government meeting, held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, the President disclosed that 15 more banks are on the line, waiting to be cleared for operation in The Gambia.

To observant Gambians, that was not at all a surprise either, taking into consideration the level of effort being expended in providing the highly conducive environment for business in this country. Amidst the persistent level of instability in the region, it is quite obvious that a country like ours is bound to serve as a haven for potential investors from all over the world. The enhancement of The Gambia’s economy has been pronounced in diverse areas, more so in the financial sector, as evident in the ever increasing number of banks and other non-bank financial institutions.

However, there is this argument around that this growth in financial institutions, which is supposed to be a blessing for the ordinary people, is not being manifested in reality. This has been attributed to the fact that bankers focus more on profit making than on sharing their wealth with the masses, even though this is all we hear from them when they defend their corporate policy lines. A possible way of ensuring the filtering down of the benefits from the financial boom is by having the financial institutions respect the true dictates of their corporate social responsibilities.  

Corporate officials ought to distinguish between collective interest and individual interests. The tradition has been that sponsorship from the private sector is directed to selected groups of people, who, in most cases, do not represent the general interest, or whose projects have absolutely no genuine significance for even they, themselves.

In yet another surprise package for Gambians, President Yahya Jammeh has pledged D1M to any Gambian who composed the best anthem for the July 22nd Revolution which will also double as the APRC anthem.

The President made this revelation as he received 9 beauty pageants from the recently concluded Miss July 22nd Beauty Pageants Competition at cabinet room at State House accompanied by the  organising committee. According to the President, the runner up for the anthem will also received half a million dalasi while the best fashion designer for the July 22nd will also receive D150,000 the runner up D1000,000 and the 2nd runner up D50,000.

The winners of the competition will receive the amount on the July 22nd 2008 marking the 14th year anniversary of the revolution. In  another show of magnanimity , the President extended sponsorship package from 9 winners   to 100 contestants  up to university level, an announcement that received a wide applause from the gathering. “But this does not include lunch to school as this should be shouldered by the parents” says the President.

Reasons for the competition

The Gambian leader explained that the main reason for organising the beauty pageant was to ensure fairness in selecting individual girls for sponsorship, in a more fair manner. “If I get up and select a girl for (full package) scholarship there will be eyebrowse”

The President disagreed with  so called scholars who are opposed to  beauty pageant  describing it as unislamic saying “I will not do anything that diminishes Islamic values. Whatever I tell people to do (I know) it does not contravene rules and regulations of Islam.”

To The President, the contest will also equipped the contestants to be able to have the courage to express themselves in public an important quality in leadership. He said that the competition also acts as a ground for revival of our culture as all the contestant were dressed in their typical traditional attires.

“So to say it is haram in Islam is not true.  It can only be haram if the contestant are dress in naked” he posited.

The President also revealed that  a competition for males is in the offing and will be reffered to as “Mr intelligent”.

He then thanked  parents who allow their children to take part in the competition which is geared towards enhancing their educational careers.

Speaking earlier, the secretaries of state for Higher Education and Basic and Secondary Education, Crispin Grey-Johnson and Fatou Lamin Faye respectively thanked the President for his foresight and courage given to the education sector in the country.

The Attorney General and SoS for Justice, Marie Saine-Firdaus advised the pageant to properly utilise the opportunities this competition created for them to The fullest.

She added “such opportunities never happened in our time.I (personally) had to struggle despite my good grades up till I became what I am today. So take it seriously.”

Abdoulie Sallah, Secretary to Cabinet also gave a word of advise to the winners urging them to jealously guard the opportunity the President  created  for them.

Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Fatoumata Semega-Janneh UTG politcal science student who was crowned the winner in Tertiary and Higher Education category competition, promised the President that he will not be let down as they will utilise the package to the fullest.

As part of his annual Europe and US tour, The Gambia’s International reggae-dancehall star is currently warming up for a one-month long tour of Germany.

Singateh, aka Freaky Joe, will be accompanied by two other Gambian young talents, under the sponsorship of Mega Force Records.

The tour is expected to commence on May 16 and is viewed by many music pundits as another positive development in the music industry.

During the tour, the Gambian trio will stage shows in two of Germany’s big cities namely, Bremen and Stuttgart.

Singateh is expected to use the tour to promote his new upcoming album, which will be due in the market in December.

Crafted at Mega Force Records in Germany,  "Wonders & Signs", the CD album comprises 14 sound tracks.

Europe tour

During his last year’s tour of Europe, Singateh entered into a three-year deal with Mega Force Records, which is a Stuttgart-based records company that contract artistes for music production, as well as help in marketing and distribution of the product internationally.

US tour

Each year, Singateh visits the US as part of his promotional tour to promote his new albums. Last year, the young prolific singer toured different states, including Atlanta, Seattle, Minnesota and Maryland and was described by many as an idol for many young budding reggae-dancehall stars.

During the month break in Germany, Singateh will move to US for another period of six months as part of his 2008 US tour, sponsored exclusively by the Gambia Talents Promotions based in Atlanta, Georgia, US.

In an Interview with What’s On, Singateh confirmed that the tour is intended to promote his upcoming album, "Wonders & Signs".

According to him, this tour will also enable him to sell his new CDs, make audio interviews, stage concerts, make new video clips, amongst others.

He revealed that this year’s US tour will see performance in more states, where he is expected to hold concerts with other Gambian US-based artistes.

On the inclusion of his colleagues, in his Germany trip, Singateh went on: "Well, I introduced these artistes to Mega Force and when they listened to their music, they were impressed and have since implanted keen interest in their talents. Later on, they sent them an invitation to accompany me in this year’s Europe tour".

On his new upcoming album, Singateh described "Wonders & Signs" as a wonderful recording as it contains hit tunes full of positive messages.

"I want my fans to expect big things coming from Singateh  this time around. Wonders & Signs album will be out in the market in December," he said.

Meanwhile, Singateh is scouting for a female back-up singer that could back him on stage in all his shows during his Europe and US tour.

"Interested persons should have a good singing voice, fluent in English and should have stage experience amongst other qualities.

For more information log on www.singateh.com.

Alahji Momodou Njie, commonly known as Biri Biri, was named the 2008 Most Outstanding Sports Personality during the 10th sports banquet and award ceremony organised by The Gambia National Olympic Committee on Saturday at the Kombo Beach Hotel.

Biri Biri claimed the highest award for being a top class and outstanding athlete-cum-footballer who for many years had won the hearts and respect of every Gambian.

Saturday’s award ceremony also saw Mr Ebou Joof, former permanent secretary at the department Youth and Sports, honoured for his dedication in the development of Gambian sports.

The former sportsman and administrator was, alongside Edrissa Njie (Chiko) and Ms Amie Kolleh Sinyan, inducted into the Hall Of Fame.

Abdou Karim George, Momodou Chuks Jallow, Saul Jeng and Robert Ndow, all deceased, were awarded the Posthumous Merit, while Fredrica Gifty Allen, Alpha Abu Khan, Saihou Omar Sallah and Saihou Sarr were inducted in the Sports Merit List.

Two foreign coaches, who had worked tireless to develop football in the country, were also remembered during Saturday’s gathering. German coach, Holger Obermann

and Fred Osam Duodu, a seasoned Ghanaian coach who aided The Gambia clinched the 2005 CAF Under 17 title in Banjul were honored with Honourary Merit Award.

Trust Bank/Western Union, a consistent sponsor for sports in the country was also decorated.

The prominent institution, which spent a staggering D867,000 (eight hundred and sixty seven thousand dalasis) on sponsorship between 2007 and 2008, was awarded the 2008 sports sponsorship trophy.