The Ambassador of The Republic of China on Taiwan, His Excellency Richard Shih, yesterday presented a cheque amounting to $6000 to the vice-chancellor of the University of The Gambia (UTG).

The money is meant for the tuition fees of ten needy UTG students.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, held at the office of the UTG vice-chancellor at the University Administrative Building in Kanifing, Ambassador Shih expressed his pleasure in supporting the country’s education sector.

He described the day as also important for him as it’s his first official visit to the UTG since assuming office. He called on UTG administration not to hesitate to contact his office for assistance. “ We are very much appreciative of our relationship with The Gambia and we will do our best to maintain it especially in the area of education”. He used the opportunity to congratulate the previous recipients of embassy scholarships. The Taiwanese diplomat urged the students to make the best use of the numerous opportunities made available to them particularly university education. “Please grab the opportunity to study hard,” he said. He added that the best way to impress one’s sponsor is to achieve good results.

For his part, Professor Andreas Steigen, vice chancellor UTG, thanked the Taiwanese government through Ambassador Shih for the kind gesture. He recalled that during the term of the former Taiwanese Ambassador Dr. Patrick Chang UTG built a strong relationship with the embassy and expressed appreciation at seeing the continuity of the ties. “We are very happy and pleased with your support. From the very beginning your country has been supportive to UTG,” he said. He said that the role of UTG is to train candidates for the government and all sectors in the country for the human resources need of the country.

Professor Ousman Nyang, assistant vice-chancellor, also applauded the Taiwanese for their continued support to the socio-economic development of The Gambia.

Saikou Saidy Jeng, a beneficiary student, praised the Taiwanese embassy for coming to their aid, noting that without their intervention it would be difficult for them to attain a university education.

The beneficiaries are: Bakary Manneh, Saikou Saidy Jeng, Fatou Jammeh-Touray, Fallou Saho, Samba Bah, Mama Jaiteh, Mariam Jaye, Fatou Mbye, Babucarr Ceesay and Haddy Jeng.

Forty-nine Gambian recipients of Taiwanese scholarships for university programmes, including clinical medicine and civil engineering, were on Tuesday morning, hosted to an orientation at the offices of the Gambia National Petroleum Company, where they were implored to hoist the country’s flag higher during the course of their academic pursuits at the Asian Pacific island state.

Five students received the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan scholarships, 18 received the International Development Cooperation Fund (ICDF) scholarships, 25 received scholarships for the civil engineering elite programme and one received the Ministry of Education scholarship for Mandarin studies.

Speaking at the ceremony, Crispin Grey-Johnson, the secretary of state for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, told students to maintain the good legacy left behind by the first batch of 25 Gambian students who have graduated with degrees in petrochemical engineering.

Describing the event as a milestone, SoS Grey-Johnson implored the students to comport themselves as good ambassadors of The Gambia through their diligence and good behaviour.

The secretary of state touched on the importance President Jammeh attaches to education, as he has been personally sponsoring a number of students to pursue higher education.

He then thanked the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the scholarships, describing the Asian-Pacific island state as the country’s biggest partner in this regard.

Abdoulie Bojang, the secretary of state for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, told the students to take up the challenge with open minds in order to learn more about the wider world.

Reminding the students that they were selected from many, SoS Bojang told the group that they have shouldered a big responsibility, saying that “to whom much is given, much is expected from”.

He also told the students to look up to Taiwan as a model that has undertaken bold initiatives to propel herself as a well developed country within a short period. He urged them to emulate the Taiwanese example and expressed confidence in their ability to excel.

The Works, Construction and Infrastructure SoS paid special attention to the 25 students who will be undertaking the civil engineering programme. He told them to face their programme with resoluteness and unwavering diligence, as the country is in dire need of civil engineers, especially in his department.

Richard Shih, the Taiwanese plenipotentiary to The Gambia, congratulated the students for making it to the final list of beneficiaries for this year’s scholarship package, describing it as the highest number in the history of the pogramme.

 He informed the 49 students, who are billed to leave Banjul soon, that this will bring the total number of Gambian students in Taiwan to about 92, excluding those on short term scholarship programmes.

The ambassador assured them of the commitment of the government of Taiwan to the scholarship programme, saying that “there will be more Gambian students to Taiwan” in the future.

Momodou Badjie, the managing director of GNPC, also spoke at the orientation, while Dr Kebba Bojang, delivered the vote of thanks.

Members of the Taiwanese community recently retreated to President Jammeh’s farm at Kanilai Village, Foni Kansala, in response to his call for people to go back to the land for the attainment of food-self sufficiency.

The officials of the Taiwanese Technical Mission in the country and other Taiwanese nationals residing in the country took part in a weeding exercise at the rice fields in Kanilai.

The volunteers were led to the farm by the chief of the Taiwanese Mission, Ambassador Richard Shih.

When he visited the volunteers on the farm, President Jammeh thanked the Taiwanese community for their support. He described Taiwan as a true and genuine friend of The Gambia.

The Taiwanese ambassador, recently, presented a cheque for US$70,000 to the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education (DOSBSE) as part of his government’s support for the construction of a modern senior secondary school at Sifoe Village, Western Region.

Presenting the cheque, Ambassador Shih stressed the importance of education as an important pillar of development and reinforced his country’s desire to stand by The Gambia in this crucial area of national development.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the contractor, Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), Fatou Lamin Faye, the secretary of state for Basic and Secondary Education, thanked the government of Taiwan, through Ambassador Shih for its continued support to the project and The Gambia as a friend. She welcomed the gesture and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project.

Fatou Mbye, the director of GTTI, thanked the Taiwanese Embassy for the trust and confidence bestowed on her institute to undertake the construction of the school and described the presentation of the cheque as timely.

Kunkung Jorbateh, the deputy permanent secretary at the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education, who chaired the ceremony, also thanked the government for its continued support for The Gambia’s projects.

The officials of the Taiwanese Technical Mission in the country, and other Taiwanese nationals, on Saturday took part in a weeding exercise at President Jammeh’s farm in Kanilai.

The volunteers were led to the farm by the head of the Taiwanese Mission in the country, Ambassador Richard Shih. The gesture is an indication that as diplomats and foreign executives they can do more than their official mission in the country.

According to Taiwanese Embassy sources, the move is in response to the president’s call for people to go back to the land.

Meanwhile, when he visited the volunteers on the farm, President Jammeh thanked the Taiwanese for their support. He described Taiwan as a true and genuine friend of The Gambia.