18 students from Odebru and Injestus University, Sweden, were on Saturday, January 31st, awarded certificates at a colourful ceremony held in Berefet, Foni, in the Western Region (WR).

The graduates comprised 3 arts and 15 musical students, who were certified after completing a three-week training at the prestigious Music School of Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO) located in Berefet, Western Region. The three-week training was conducted by teachers from Daykit Chossan and West African musicians in The Gambia from December 1st, 2008, to  January 2nd, 2009.

The graduation ceremony brought together senior officials from the public and private sector, residents of Berefet and some past students of the music school from Sweden. Speaking at the ceremony, Babou Sarr, country director of ECCO, elaborated on the importance of culture in the life of any given society.  He hailed the Swedish students for what he called their hard work and dedication in learning and mastering the arts  and cultural dances of almost all the main ethnic groups in The Gambia within the three-week duration.

Sunkary Badjie, chairman of the Brikama Area Council, thanked ECCO for what he described as a bold and wonderful initiative