Hello wonderful readers, in this edition of Top Class, we focus on the keynote address of the President of Peace Ambassador of The Gambia (PAG), Lamin Sanyang during the 6th graduation ceremony of the 9th recruitment exercise held Friday at the Joint Officers Mess along the Bertil Harding Highway.

Addressing the graduates under the theme, ‘Get inspired; global peace is reality”, he revealed that the lack of peace and its effects are not generally given in- depth study and analysis and this often results to ignorance and limited collective action to create a sustainable peaceful environment for humanity.

He stressed the need for people to understand global problems, healthy living conditions, and the skills to resolve conflicts and struggle for justice and non-violently, living by the standards of human rights and equity, appreciate cultural diversity and respect for each other, in which human survival and development can be guaranteed. “Such Knowledge can only be achieved through systematic education for peace and stability, and this forms the hub to establishment of this organisation. Thus we focused on the development human mind,” he said.

He went on to say that there is never a doubt that small groups of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world. “We may be small in numbers but with commitment and steadfastness we can always excel in whatever it is that you are prepared to carry out. We do not need magic to change the world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better. These imaginations are what we need to realise, which global peace that have been illusions for centuries.

He stated that a lot of them would like to move mountains but few of them are willing to practice on small hills noting that peace as it is been prophesized by the great Mahatma Ghandi begins with oneself. Therefore in order for you to be that icon of peace that we have trained them, please begin this important crusade by yourself, families, and communities and then to the wider world.

Sanyang urged graduates not to underrate any initiative to achieve and reach their goal and they must all bear in mind that progress however, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. “Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.  

He further disclosed that the journey they have set for themselves trekked through rough roads; it is a journey travelled by few brave and courageous men and women; it is a journey full of mysteries and above all it is a journey the success of which many people are pessimistic about – it is known as the journey for peace. “Success in whatever form is neither magical nor mysterious.

Success is the natural consequences of constantly applying basic fundamentals,” he remarked. He noted that as they start their journey, the first thing they should do is to throw away that perceived notion that they had before joining PAG and begin to develop their own.

He said that when they started this organization, it didn’t occur to them that they would one day become number one in the country adding that they had to figure that out every step of the way and with each new programme/ activity they came up with “pessimists” said they’d fail but through the efforts of their committed and dedicated members, they emerged as leaders, and they continue to gain momentum.

“We must choose to remember the fundamental instruments of peace and leadership; dialogue and understanding, tolerance and forgiveness and freedom and democracy. These will work together under the umbrella of justice and equality,” he further stated.

He added: “It’s time for you to move on to what’s next. But you must not let anything deter you from taking those first steps. Don’t spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity, that you miss the right opportunity. Recognise that there will be failures, and acknowledge that there will be obstacles. But you will learn from your mistakes of others, for there is very little learning in success.”