Gainako Newspaper

....Thumps up for the 25 Gambian-Taiwan Students
...................................By: Alieu Khan, Åland Islands.......................June 20th, 2008
I was very happy to hear that the 25 Gambian students studying at the National Taipei
University of Technology has successfully completed their studies and are about to take
up new jobs in The Gambia. This is really a moment of extra pride and jubilation. It's a
celebration of dreams being realised and a relief to the brain drain crises that is costing
Africa more than 4 billion Dollars per year.

I was not the least surprised with the excellent performance of the 25 students. Some of
them have been academic standouts, since their primary school days. Fatoumatta Ndure
is not a stranger to many young Gambians. She has represented Gambia at many
international gatherings and has always been outspoken in issues affecting young people.
It's the same with Cany Jobe, Asi Jallow and many others.

Kwame Nkrumah, a former Pan African leader argued that Africa needs dedicated, modest, honest and informed
citizens to progress. The Gambia is undoubtedly on the move towards achieving this. Currently there are hundreds of
young Gambians enrolled at the University of The Gambia, committed to becoming computer engineers, social workers,
historians, lawyers etc. There are also hundreds more, in all parts of the globe struggling to become the dedicated,
modest, honest and informed citizens that Kwame has been advocating for.

It was in 2004 when the 25 students left the Gambia for Taiwan, a country they know little about and a country that
speaks a very different language. It was not an easy task for them, but with determination and courage they were able to
overcome lot of obstacles.

The students have been trained in crude oil exploration and other areas of the petroleum industry. This will obviously help
The Gambia from spending huge amount of money in hiring foreign expatriates in that area.

As the group happily prepares to return back home, I would like to congratulate them and wish them best of luck in their
coming endeavours. F-Matta, Cany, Asi and all the others keep it up, we are proud of you.

........Kudos to a man of honor!
................................................By Yero Jallow....................June 16th, 2008

Ah! My little sight
Don't trick me ever
For I saw a man of honor
So peaceful and humble
Like an egret or a dove
Before a cheering crowd.

This one of ours that I saw
A poet f time
A visionary educationist
Who by God's grace
Gave all his life to the struggle
Educating the pupils, educating.

Ah! My little sight
You know who I saw
When he profiled African culture
In his many cultural poems
Starting with Africa
And ending with Africa.

The cheering crowds echoed aloud
Darkness sneaked out ashamed
Over the new dawn that brought day
Contained in the magnificent book
Of powerful memories
'The River Gambia' of sweet talk.

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