Speaking at the closing ceremony, the permanent secretary, PMO, Dawda Fadera, underscored that capacity building is a mandate vested under his office, while commenting on the crucial nature of the Immigration Department.

He said: “The Immigration is very crucial for any government around the world. This is the machinery that converts government activity and objectives into reality. If public service does not work nothing will operate in any state.”

PS Fadera then urged the officers to share the skill gained with others.

Also speaking at the occasion, the director general of the GID, Buba Sanyang, said capacity building is paramount for any organisation to achieve its goals. This, he posited is key especially in developing countries where a lot needs to be done regarding staff development, evolution and motivation.

“It is our vision as a Department to become a role model to other immigration institutions within the sub-regional and beyond and this cannot be realised in the absence of a capable and skilful human resources base,” Sanyang stated.

While noting that the training is a clear manifestation of their endeavour to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the people they serve, the Immigration chief said it will go a long way in complementing their efforts to build the capacity of the staff as well as inspire them to be more effective in contributing to the development of the Department.

For her part, the director general of MDI, Jainaba Kah, said her institution is the main training institute for the public sector management and administration, and has been a major player in President Jammeh’s government Public Sector Reform Agenda. Kah said part of their mandate is to build human capacity and enhance professional development for not only the public sector but also private and NGO sector. This, according to her has been going on for over 20 years, indicating that many public servants have benefited from various training programmes at MDI.

Dr. Kah explained that the MDI integration and renewal programme is designed to give the institute a rebirth by upgrading its mandate and fundamentally restricting and re-engineering it to exist within the School of Business and Public Administration under the University of The Gambia.