By Yunus S Saliu
The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) with the Ostend Banjul City Link Project last Friday completed a certification program on tour guiding for the Banjul Tourist Guides (BTG).
The certification program held at the Crab Island Training Centre in Banjul was sponsored by the Ostend Banjul City Link Project under the EU-funded project and participants were drawn from across the wards in Banjul.
The concluded course provided the members of the Banjul Tourist Guide (BTG) with knowledge, connections, and job opportunities that can help them start a new life as city professional tour guides. The training program also provided them the chance to explore further the heritage sites and places of attraction across the country, sharing the history of Banjul City and The Gambia through storytelling.
The training was rounded up with sites visited across the city while the thirty trainees were issued certificates of completion.
Speaking on behalf of Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul City Council, Aziz Dabakh Gaye, Deputy Mayor of the city congratulated the trainees saying it is the beginning of a new life for them.
He thanked the National Centre for Arts and Culture and Ostend Banjul City Link Project for organizing the program, and in an extension, he thanked the trainers for devoting their time to the training.
On behalf of the Mayor of Banjul City Council, he urged the trainees to continue exploring the city without hesitation in taking their visitors and tourists to this historical city.
Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of the NCAC applauded the trainees for their steadfastness and punctuality during the period of training. He noted the training has taught participants how to engage tourists and make them always visit the city to listen to the history and story without being bored.
He added that they can all succeed beyond their expectations with their talent and acquired tour guiding knowledge.
Mamat Sallah, deputy director of Museum and Monuments, and Alagie Bojang, the lead trainers at the training congratulated trainees on their success and encouraged them to do more research because it will always help them to upgrade their knowledge.