By Kemo Kanyi
The International Open University (IOU) held its 10th graduation ceremony on January 13, 2023, at the Alliance Franco for 585 students worldwide, of which 120 students graduated in The Gambia.
The joyous ceremony was attended by Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Claudiana Ayo Cole, parents of the graduates, family members, and other guests.
Addressing the gathering, the vice-chancellor of the university, Dr. Cherno Barry, urged the outgoing student to use the knowledge gained to impact positive change in society.
“The International Open University celebrates its 10th graduation with much humility. We are awarding 15 students around the world with Master of Arts in Islamic Studies and 373 students graduating with Bachelors in all respective fields, 25 students awarded associate degree, and 23 certificate holders,” Dr. Barry revealed.
He informed that out of the 120 graduating students in The Gambia, 65 would be awarded Bachelor of Education hybrid system, and 21 would be awarded academic excellence.
He also took time to remember the late Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, Dr. Alieu Badara Joof, and the late chief executive officer of the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority, Dr. Gibril Jaw, who both guided them in their march to success.
The founder and chancellor of IOU, Dr Bilal Philips, reminded the graduates of the importance of building and maintaining global unity and human progress through education, which he said is a fundamental mandate of International Open University.
“Education contains a unique ability to eliminate ignorance and provide essential to human society. It serves as a catalyst for the advancement of communities and human civilization as a whole. However, without divine guidance, knowledge can easily be a source of human tragedy and destruction, as we are currently witnessing in Palestine,’’ he said. ‘’The only way to collectively advance human civilization is through education, and that only succeeds if education keeps moral values firmly embedded in everything that is taught in our various educational institutions,” Dr. Phillips added.
He enjoined the graduates to strive collectively toward the betterment and advancement of human society through education.
Honorable Claudiana Ayo Cole, Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, said combining the advanced diploma from The Gambia College and Bachelor’s degree from the International Open University, these educators have developed their capacity to impact quality education in our senior secondary schools as a prerequisite for quality education is quality teachers.
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the MRC Holland Foundation for providing financial support to the graduating teachers who are going to be catalysts for change by transforming future leaders. She said the contribution made by the MRC Holland Foundation has made it possible for the IOU to train as many teachers as possible.
“Enabling teachers to achieve such high-quality education is a benefit to my ministry and The Gambia as a whole. The quality of education directly influences the overall development of a country, fostering intellectual growth, innovation, and critical thinking,” the minister stated.
