Africa-Press – Gambia. Nusrat Senior Secondary School in Bundung held its golden graduation ceremony since the establishment of the school fifty-four years ago.
In his welcome remarks, Acting Principal Paul Graham Addae described it as a bittersweet moment as the school bids farewell to five hundred and fifty students after nurturing them for three years of academic excellence and discipline.
“The old order changes, yielding place to new ones, or else the old custom will corrupt the world. The world is a stage where everyone plays a role and leaves the scene to be replaced, or else society becomes static and corrupt,” he told the outgoing students.
He affirmed that the school has provided a solid foundation of knowledge and tools for the graduates to build their future.
The guest speaker, Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, herself an alumna, told the graduating class: “Today we gather to celebrate not only achievement but also your potential and the promise of what you will become.” She reminded them that the theme for this year, “The Future Starts with Us,” is not just a slogan but a call to action and ownership. “When we say the future starts with us today, we are claiming tomorrow. It is not passive, it is a powerful declaration that each of you is poised to write your own story and, collectively, the story of our country and the world,” she said.
Dr. Drammeh urged the students to remember that it is important to celebrate their achievements; what truly matters is the potential within, the dreams yet to be realized, and the contributions they are yet to make. “Every decision you make today shapes who you become tomorrow and the world you help build. Choose kindness over indifference, curiosity over complacency, and courage over fear. These choices define the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow,” she said, encouraging them to dream boldly and act with integrity wherever they find themselves.
Vice President Muhammad BS Jallow, another Nusrat alumnus, was the chief guest of honor. He echoed the theme, reminding students they are not simply observers but architects of the future. “Each of you has a brick to lay. Nusrat has long stood as a pillar of academic excellence and moral discipline. When I walked these corridors as a student, I never imagined I would one day serve my country at the highest level. That journey began here, just like yours is beginning now,” VP Jallow said. He urged them to be steadfast, as the future is anchored on their choices, efforts, and values. “It is not written in the stars but in your notebooks, your attitude and your actions,” he said, encouraging graduates to dream big but work hard to make those dreams a reality.
Other speakers included Amir Baba F. Trawally, chairman of the school board of governors, and Ensa Njie, chairperson of the Parents’ Teachers Association. The ceremony was graced by the National Assembly Member for Bundung, Hon. Sulayman Jammeh, distinguished former students, parents, guardians, and students. A vibrant drama performance by the Peer Health Club symbolized the transition to new beginnings.
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