Assan Sallah, a news editor at the Daily Observer newspaper and the public relations officer (PRO) of the Armitage Ex-students’ Association told graduating students at Armitage Senior Secondary School that they must know their roles and responsibilities in the society.

According to him, students noware much more equipped than before thanks to the priority given to the education sector by thecurrent government.“What you are learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future,” he said.

Sallah made these remarks at the recent 85th graduationand prize-giving ceremony of Armitage Senior Secondary School held at Janjangbureh in Central River Region. Further in his speech, he stressed the importance of education, saying that it is the best tool to bring about a positive change in the society as well as to develop a generation of responsible individuals.

He then advised students to be discipline and dedicated to service, given their status as future leaders of the nation; thata combination of education and discipline will enable them to effectively and efficiently render the needed services to humanity.

“The moment to venture on your own into the real world and truly pursue your passion has finally come. With greater confidence, knowledge and awareness of the world, you should now be ready to contribute your quota to national development and support your country,” Sallah told the new high school leavers. He went on to congratulate them whileurging them to aspire to acquire what they desire.

He spoke at length on some of the activities of the Ex-Students’ Association, while disclosing that the association every year provides items; such as bags of rice, plates, cooking utensils, learning materials among other valuable items to the school during its speech and prize-giving ceremony.

The Ex-students’ public relations officer, while highlighting the achievement of his Association, disclosedthat they were giving a prize of D500 to the best graduating male and another D500 to the best graduating female student. He said theAssociation has in its plans for the next academic year, to establish a bookshop in the school campus for the students.

“We the ex-students of Armitage owe an obligation to this great institution, for it is our alma-mater. It is the school that moulded us to become what we are today.Armitage is 85 years this year, and this means a lot in the history of the country.

In 85 years, Armitage has produced various elites, prominent among is the vice president, HE Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the only female VP in West Africa and 1st female VP in The Gambia, some cabinet ministers including the current attorney general, ambassadors, permanent secretaries, managing directors, among others,” he stated.

He therefore called on the Armitage ex-students to come together and develop their school. “Remember the school’s motto says, ‘Enter to learn; Go forth to serve’. So in as much as you are serving people, you should also try to remember your alma-mater that made you who are today”.

Sallah concluded: “I want to thank the president of the Republic, HE Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, for his concern towards students’ welfare as well as his tireless efforts in the development of Armitage and of course all other schools in the country. Besides, he has also been supportive to the school at all times. I also wish to thank the Vice President and Africell for their support to the Armitage Ex-students’ Association”.