Ten needy students of the University of The Gambia (UTG), on Tuesday, received scholarships from the Taiwanese Embassy in Banjul.

Richard Shih, the Taiwanese plenipotentiary to Banjul, presented a cheque for US$6,000 to Prof Andreas Steigen, the vice-chancellor of the UTG, for the 2008/2009 academic year, at a presentation ceremony held at the UTG administrative building on MDI Road, Kanifing.

According to reports from the UTG, the benefitting students have been selected for exhibiting impressive academic aptitude and diligence in their various pursuits at the UTG.

At the ceremony, Ambassador Shih expressed his embassy's affinity with the UTG, as the scholarship package has now become an annual tradition for the mission in Banjul. For the Taiwanese plenipotentiary, whose face was beaming with delight as he presented the cheque to the vice-chancellor, the gesture is a show of their commitment to the cause of the UTG in producing graduates for the development aspirations of the country.

He praised the recipients for their dedication to their courses, which according to him, has earned them the recognition to benefit from the package. He also implored them to continue working hard in a bid to ultimately enjoy the fruits of their diligence.

Ambassador Shih used the opportunity to elaborate on the array of opportunities that the UTG could explore, especially in the areas of exchange programmes and internships in Taiwan. This proposal aroused the interest of the UTG officials, who were visibly excited.

For his part, Vice-Chancellor Prof Steigen lauded the initiative, acknowledging that what the Taiwanese mission has been doing for the UTG is much more than what they had expected.

"We are happy and proud of what you have given us. We trust you and depend on you," Prof Steigen said, noting that the package should not be taken for granted.

According to him, the UTG  aims to be a development university, where people are trained and armed with the necessary know-how to contribute effectively to the public and the private sectors of the country.

Prof Steigen then thanked the Taiwanese Embassy for the scholarships and assured Ambassador Shih of the UTG's commitment to the shared relationship.

Other speakers at the ceremony included the deputy vice-chancellor, Dr Ebrima Nyan and Lamin S Jaiteh, the registrar of the UTG, who chaired the ceremony. At the ceremony, Saikou Jeng, one of the recipients of the scholarship, delivered a vote of thanks. Some senior of officials of the UTG and the Taiwanese Embassy witnessed the ceremony.