By: Mariama Njie
The International Organisation for Migration, (IOM) has donated IT equipment and tools worth D2.5 million to The Gambia Telecommunication and Multimedia Institute (GTMI).
The donated items seek to equip the Institution’s newly renovated lab.
Speaking at the handing over of the items, IOM Mission Chief, Fumiko Nagano, said: “It is envisaged that, today’s donation of IT equipment and tools to the GTMI, Kanifing campus will quadruple the number of trainees. It should also translate in 20% reductions in tuitions fees, which GTMI will be charging for skills training in the sector in the next two years.”
Hopefully, she said “the equipment that we are donating today will go a long way in enhancing the capacity of GTMI and enable the institute to provide the much needed service in skills development for Gambians youths.”
Director of GTMI, Malick Bah described the donation as a milestone in GTMI partnership with the International Organisation for Migration.
He disclosed that GTMI is deriving to meet the increasing demand for its programs embarked on an expansion of its facilities, which included three refurbish labs for solar installations, laptop repairs, and digital video editing and production.
“Upon completions of the civil work, we face the huge challenge of equipping these labs. IOM then came to our rescue by accepting to support us by providing the necessary equipment and this overall cost is D2.5 million,” he said.
He therefore assured the donor that the equipment would be put into good use. In a bit to empower youths in the communities of origin to achieve their livelihood expectations and promote local alternatives to irregular migration
IOM had previously enabled one hundred and fifty (150) youths to undergo various training programs at GTMI. Similarly, hundreds of Gambian returnees had been trained on various skills at technical and vocational education and training centres within the greater Banjul area and beyond.
