The 18th graduation ceremony at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Senegambia brought together graduates and guests to reflect on service, volunteerism, family values, and the future of The Gambia’s tourism industry.
According to dtourisphere, Dr. Adama Bah, Chairman of ITTOG’s Board of Directors, congratulated graduates, lecturers, and staff, highlighting the importance of giving back to society. Drawing from his experience with volunteer organisations such as People and Places and CorpsAfrica, Dr. Bah stressed that volunteerism “is not simply about spending your time helping others; it’s impact goes far beyond that.”
He encouraged young people to embrace service as a means of personal and national development. “Life becomes meaningful when we give back what we have been given,” he said. Dr. Bah also paid tribute to a young driver, Assan, who reportedly lost his life at sea, urging graduates to pursue their goals at home with dedication and perseverance.
Outgoing Head of School, Alhaji Sheikh Tejan Nyang, reflected on his 18 years at ITTOG, calling it a “university of life” where he earned metaphorical degrees from lessons learned through parents’ stories of sacrifice, struggle, and commitment.
He emphasised the vital role of parents in shaping children, noting that schools “reinforce values, but parents plant them.”
Sheikh Nyang also addressed volunteerism and professional service in the tourism sector, urging graduates to approach their careers with humility, patience, and discipline. Highlighting challenges in The Gambia’s tourism industry, he called for visionary leadership, quality service, and the eradication of inefficiencies that hinder growth.
Keynote speaker Professor Harold Goodwin, chairman of People and Places Responsible Volunteering from the United Kingdom, underscored the transformative power of volunteering, while new ITTOG Head of School Daba Jagne and other dignitaries encouraged graduates to use their education for community development and national progress.
In closing, Sheikh Nyang shared thoughts on retirement, describing it not as rest but as “redirection” of purpose, urging graduates to remain committed to their calling.
The ceremony also recognised six industry pioneers – Pa Omar Faal, Sami Tamim, Alhaji Gibba, Kantong Jaiteh, Aji Jainaba Gaye, and Aji Ramou Nyang- for their contributions to The Gambia’s tourism sector, reinforcing ITTOG’s policy of honouring contributors while they are alive.
The event was attended by government officials, tourism stakeholders, parents, and international partners, celebrating the continued growth of The Gambia’s travel and tourism workforce.
