The Gambia was colonized for 400 years, and the result was systematic plunder of our human and material resources, as well as flagrant denial to our people of virtually all the basics attributes of a dignified human society. But perhaps the greatest injustice meted to us was the failure of our colonizers to provide us with opportunity to education.

Even though we were tormented, time and again, with the monotonous gospel song of 'learning is better than silver and gold' our masters were not kind enough to offer anything a little bit above secondary school education other than to the handful, religiously motivated ones.

Over 400 years on, that ludicrous legacy is being defied. One of the landmark achievements of the current dispensation is the establishment of the University of The Gambia, in March 1999. And like almost all the other projects that sprouted at the same embryonic stage of the development campaign, this gigantic undertaking was not spared by the poisonous tongues of our detractors. They did not only shamelessly ask about the neccessity for such a project, but also questioned the posibility of its completion. The University, against all odds, came to life.

In about a month's time, we shall be withnessing yet another batch of graduates from this noble institution of ours. 175 students are set to receive bachelor's degrees from the various fields of studies being offered at the UTG.

These graduates are expected to go into the national workforce to contribute to the different dimensions of our national development. Already, there are notable, exemplary individuals; SOS Colley, Tourism Secretary of State, and Benedict Jammeh, the Inspector General of police are both luminaries of the UTG. There are many, many  more others in the public as well as the private sectors, who are doing their quota with just the same vigour.

An obvious fact is that all the achievements registered by the UTG would not have been possible without political support, which was in abundance, and the personal support of his Excellency, President Yahya Jammeh, crowned it all.

As the march towards the country's evolutionary transformation continues, UTG will continue to play a mammoth role in its march towards attaining its goal as enshrined in the Vision 20/20 blueprint.

To this end, it is fitting for us all to contribute to its continuous sustainability. The UTG is an institution to make all Gambians proud. Thank you President Jammeh and all those many Gambians and non-Gambians who made the vision a reality.