Evidence was all around on Tuesday, February 16 of just how much an education can change lives. In Africa's smallest country and one of the world's poorest, 62 Gambian students received their degrees, making them the first Gambians to receive university degrees in their own country.
"My whole life has changed since I became a Saint Mary's student," said one of Saint Mary's University's newest graduates Hassoum Cessay. He is a teacher in a rural area of the country who will now return to the classroom to enrich the lives of generations of children to come.
This year's Convocation was a resounding success.With their degrees in one hand, a group of Gambians throw an imaginary snowball with the other. Even though they know that the chances of ever seeing snow in West Africa are slim, they enjoy the moment. They have just graduated with degrees from Saint Mary's University, so they figure that it is only fitting to act out the Canadian winter pastime.
The Gambia in West Africa with a population just over 1.2 million, has faced harsh economic conditions for years, and the dream of having their own university seemed just that - a dream. But the country is now well on its way to making the University of The Gambia a reality and the first convocation in the country is a huge milestone in that process.
Four years ago, Saint Mary's began providing Gambian students with the opportunity to obtain a post-secondary education in their own country. Many professors from Saint Mary's have traveled to The Gambia to teach courses, as well, there are qualified Gambian instructors. Saint Mary's is also assisting the country in developing the University of The Gambia. Both projects have been carried out with the assistance of the Nova Scotia Gambia Association.
"Education is the key to the growth of our country," said The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh in his convocation address to over 800 people who had crowded in to the downtown hotel hall in the capital city Banjul, to witness this historic occasion. "Now with education, the sky is the limit," he said to a loud applause from the crowd. President Jammeh was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of Civil Law at Tuesday's convocation.
Dr. Kenneth L. Ozmon, President of Saint Mary's University, who was in Banjul to award the degrees to the students, told the audience that the convocation is a momentous occasion for both The Gambia and Saint Mary's. "It is the first time your citizens will have completed degree studies in their own country, and it is also the first time Saint Mary's has awarded degrees outside Canada," he said.
He welcomed Saint Mary's newest graduates to the already 25,000 alumni of the University from around the world.
"Those countries, such as The Gambia, which have committed themselves to improving education at all levels will be the success stories of the 21st century, notwithstanding the sacrifices they may have to make in the 20th century in order to advance this important agenda," said Dr. Ozmon.
Dr. Ozmon acknowledged the support of the Nova Scotia Gambia Association, in particular SMU alumni Mr. Burris Devanney, who has been the driving force behind the creation of the University Extension Program in The Gambia.
Momodou Sabally, President of the Saint Mary's Students' Association in The Gambia, gave the valedictory address. "It is indeed a laudable achievement that the ship of the University Extension Program has finally docked to unload its batch of 62 graduates after their arduous three-year journey," he said. "Our Canadian partners deserve special commendation for their confidence in The Gambia's educational system that led them to run an extension program here. To Dr. Ozmon and his team, we say 'Bravo'." A large cheer then filled the hall.
And these students have a lot to cheer about. As the country's first graduates, they will have all sorts of doors open to them. Students like Alieu Saho, who has worked a clerk for the Central Statistics Department of The Gambia for the past year. Upon receiving his degree in economics from Saint Mary's, he was promoted to a position as State Economist.
"I would never have landed this kind of job without a degree," he exclaims. Tears begin to fill up his eyes. "Having a degree from Saint Mary's will take me to new heights in life."
Saint Mary's University is known for its community outreach projects, both in Canada and around the world. Saint Mary's, founded in 1802, is home to one of Canada's leading business schools, a Science Faculty widely known for its cutting-edge research, a comprehensive and innovative Arts Faculty and a new Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
Source: St Mary's University
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