The Nigerian community in The Gambia, last Thursday, 1st October, celebrated Nigeria's 49th Independence anniversary at a colourful reception at the conference hall of the Sheraton Hotel, located on the Brufut Height.

The reception brought together distinguished personalities from the Nigerian community in The Gambia, officials of the government of The Gambia, media practitioners, among others. Mrs Esther John Audu, Nigerian high commissioner to The Gambia, in a message read to the audience on behalf of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigera, His Excellency, President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua, said on the 1st of October of each year, Nigerians from all walks of live often gather with their families and friends to commemorate the anniversary of the county's independence as a sovereign nation. High Commissioner Audu remarked that their country's Independence anniversary is often observed in honour of their political and economic achievements as a sovereign nation. 

On Nigeria and Gambia relations
The high commissioner revealed that The Gambia-Nigeria relationship has spaned over 50 years and that it has been very cordial and beneficial to both countries. She stressed that business and investment activities have increased considerably between the two countries. According to her, there are about eight Nigerian banks, three insurance companies as well as three Nigerian airlines operating in The Gambia.

"Nigeria is proud to be a close ally and development partner of The Gambia in all aspects of global affairs ranging from human development, technical assistance in the legal, judiciary, health, and griculture sector, especially the Gambian leader's back-to-the-land call, meant to achieve food self-sufficiency in The Gambia, Africa and the world at large. Nigeria will continue to partner with The Gambia at all times to ensure realisation of the country's development objectives, especially the Vision 2020 blue print," she said.

"In support of The Gambia government's development efforts," the high commissioner went on, "in November 2008, the second batch of eleven Nigerian legal officers arrived in the country to strengthen the administration of justice and human resources at the Ministry of Justice. This was followed by signing of a Technical Assistance Cooperation (TAC) between the two countries," she asserted. High Commissioner Audu then disclosed that a total of one hundred and sixty five Technical Aid Volunteers will be deployed to The Gambia before the end of this year.

These volunteers she said, will comprise doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, teachers, farm engineers, crop and animal scientists. However, she noted that allowances, accomodation and other logistics for these volunteers will be provided by the government of The Gambia. High Commissioner Audu then seized the opportunity to call on her compatroits living in the country to be law abiding and engage in gainful employment and other business investments; thus preserving the good image and relationship between the two countries.

Ousman Jammeh, minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, on behalf of the Gambian leader, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, conveyed heartfelt felicitations to the Nigerian leader. Minister Jammeh described the day as one that affords Nigerians the opportunity to reflect on and celebrate achievements made in various aspects of the country's development programmes.