By Abdoulie Sawo,
Ankara University
The Association of Gambian Students in Turkey (AGAST) has held its traditional Iftar on June 11, 2017 at the Gambian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
The iftar is meant for caring, sharing and cementing solidarity among Gambians in Turkey. The event was attended by the Ambassador H.E Momodou Badjie and his staff and the Gambian students.
After breaking fast, the students organised a brief ceremony to handover certificates and medals of appreciation to the Ambassador H.E Momodou Badjie, Deputy Ambassador Mr. Serign Modou Njie and Financial Attaché Musa Jobarteh.
Opening the ceremony, the former President of AGAST, Mr. Ebrima S Njie extolled H.E Badjie and the staff for the boundless support they have rendered to the Gambian students in Turkey. He said the Embassy was always in support of the students’ activities and they actively participate in all programs organized by the students.
Speaking on behalf of the students, the Secretary General of AGAST, Abdoulie Sawo, relayed the students’ infinite gratitude to the Embassy staff for their unflinching support to the association. He said words cannot express students’ appreciation and thanks for their assistance throughout. He presented certificates and medals to H.E Badjie and the staff as a token of appreciation from AGAST.
Receiving the awards in surprise, H.E Badjie thanked the students for recognizing and thanking them for their efforts. He said: “We are grateful for recognizing us…and in turn we are thankful and humble”. He reminded the students that it is their duty and function to look after the welfare of the Gambians, bulk of which are students. H.E Badjie praised his staff who always endeavor to take the Embassy to higher height. He said their aim is always to keep the Gambian flag flying high in which the students were very instrumental. He urged the students to keep comradeship, solidarity and esprit de corps to further entrench great bond among Gambians in Turkey.
H.E Badjie appealed to the students to be always hardworking in order to help build The Gambia. He said the students should make best use of their stay in Turkey, a country that is always assistive to The Gambia.
Having in mind that his tenure is coming to an end, H.E Badjie implored the students to be supportive and corporative to Mr. Kemeseng Jammeh, who will replace him in Turkey as the Ambassador. “I have belief that Mr. Kemeseng Jammeh will also work with the students very well”, he said.
Mr. Serign Modou Njie also thanked the students for organizing the Iftar and the surprise awards. “We want to recognise your support AGAST. You’ve been supporting the office very well. We’ve respected your unity. We’ve also respected your discipline”, he said. He urged the students to keep up the good work.
He also congratulated the Gambian students who have recently graduated from various universities in Turkey. He challenged the students to go back home and help in the development of The Gambia.
