The opening ceremony of the first International Conference on Education and Development Initiatives will be held at the YMCA on Saturday May 24 at 8:30am reports from the event organizers, USA-based Delight Heritage Consultants disclosed to the Daily Observer.  

According to the Banjul representative of the international conference, Poncelet Ileleji of YMCA, the event will promote systematic approaches to furthering the development of education and national growth in The Gambia.

The conference will bring together "top local, national international educators, researchers, stakeholders and donor agency representatives from around the world for information exchange and collaboration in education and development efforts in The Gambia", the organizers said in a statement.

Highlights of the conference include paper presentations by Joseph Peacock of YMCA, Mrs Isatou Ndow of Gambia College.

Other Gambian educators; international scholars like Dr. Buba Misawa of Washington & Jefferson College, Dr. Emeka Obiozor of Bloomsburg University & Dr. Emil Nagengast of Juniata College, Pennsylvania-USA, will be participating.  There will also be special presentation of special education books to The Gambia Methodist Special School teachers by an American University professor.  This free conference is open to all Gambian educators, students, teachers and the general public.