The president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, yesterday, laid the foundation stone for the construction of the university village, a component of the campus of the University of The Gambia (UTG), at the village of Faraba Banta in Kombo East, Western Region.

Addressing the gathering before laying the foundation stone, the Gambian leader thanked Hugo Chavez, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, for his assistance to the University of The Gambia as well as for sponsoring the construction of the university village. President Jammeh described the Venezuelan leader as a true democrat and humanitarian. Democracy, Professor Jammeh said, is about poverty eradication and self reliance.

"Africa should fight poverty, backwardness and ignorance, which are the worst forms of diseases on the continent. Ignorance can be eradicated through education, this is from primary to university level," President Jammeh remarked. He described the laying of the foundation stone for the university village as a historic moment and a true realisation of universal education. He further described this development as a demonstration of his government's move beyond the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to providing opportunities for higher education and learning for Gambians and creating knowledge-based society in The Gambia.

"In spiritual terms, the foundation stone is also a fulfilment of the words of the Almighty Allah, when he enjoined upon us in the first revealed Sura or chapter of the Holy Qur'an, Iqra, to seek knowledge and learn. So too is learning made a compulsory act of life from the numerous Hadiths revealed to us by Prophet Muhammed (SAW). The wisdom in all these is that knowledge provides solutions to human problems," President Jammeh, who is also the chancellor of the University of The Gambia, remarked. He added that his government's investments in higher education constitutes an essential element in its collective drive to achieving Vision 2020 and the shaping of its philosophy of progress over the years.

The university village, Professor Jammeh said, will provide training, advanced research and related services in science and technology, consistent with the UTG's agenda for the creation of science parks in The Gambia. "I have always advocated for accessibility and affordability of education to all without regard to any socio-economic or political class; and for this policy, the sky is the limit," Professor Jammeh assured.

He further assured Gambians that the university village, when completed, will be one of the best in the world, and he called on the youths of this country to change their attitudes and make the best use of the opportunities created for them at the UTG. "In laying this symbolic foundation stone, I want to remind all Gambians to work together in unison, to be ready to be innovative and productive agents of change. It is my hope that this university village, which will pave the way to make The Gambia a hub of educational and scientific excellence in our sub-region and beyond, will help to make us the productive agents we seek to become," the Gambian leader noted.

He appealed to the people of Kombo East to reserve enough land for the university village construction. President Jammeh congratulated the GAF engineering unit for taking up the contract and advised them to cultivate groundnut on the fertile land for this season. "My government would ensure that adequate support is provided to ensure that work progresses well, and that we succeed in creating the most modern university village within the sub-region," he concluded.

Speaking earlier, Momodou Tangara, chairman of the UTG Governing Council, deliberated on the significance of having a university village. He described the move as timely and thanked President Jammeh for the foresight and vision. Madam Therese Martinez, Venezuelan ambassador to The Gambia, said this move will consolidate their commitments to the South-South Cooperation, among others. She added that the existing relations between The Gambia and Venezuela will also continue to grow from strength to strength.

Newly promoted Lieutenant General Lang Tombong Tamba, chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, said modern armed forces, including GAF, do not only serve in fighting wars, but they also have complementary roles that contribute to the course of socio-economic development of their nations.

CDS Tamba assured the gathering that the GAF engineering corps will execute the contract of constructing the university village on time. Other speakers included Lamin Sanneh - governor of Western Region, Yusupha Dibba - permanent secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Lamin Bojang - National Assembly member for Kombo East, Basirou Jarjue - chief of Kombo East, and Nuha Kujabi - Alkalo of Faraba Banta.

Professor Muhammadou Kah, vice chancellor of the UTG, delivered the vote of thanks. The ceremony was attended by Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy - vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Elizabeth Renner - speaker of the National Assembly, ministers, diplomats and a cross section of the Gambian community.