The Gambian State has donated a hostel facility to The Regional Maritime University (RMU), to help alleviate accommodation problems faced by students.
The new "Gambia Hostel" was sponsored by the Republic of Gambia, one of the member countries of the university. It was commissioned as part of the 18th Board of Governors meeting held on Friday to dialogue on issues affecting the University.
Estimated to cost $400, 000, the three storey building has 48 rooms with the top floor reserved for dignitaries and expatriates.
Principal Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure at the Republic of Gambia, Ebrima Sanneh said, the RMU approached the then President of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, during the 11th Board of Governors Meeting in 2011, to help build a hostel for the University.
The appeal he said, was accepted and funds was made available for the building of the facility which was commissioned by the Minister of Transport who doubles as the Chancellor of the RMU, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.
“We were involved in periodic visits to determine progress and adherence to standards and specifications as we do not want to throw our money and wait for the last day to see what we have,†he stated.
According to him, they ensured that the building has quality, value for money and benefit all, especially the foreign students.
He encouraged other member countries to emulate the gesture, to ensure that the issue of non-availability of hostels becomes a thing of the past.
“Students being on campus would help as it would ensure they feel the cordiality that universities provide worldwide,†he stated.
Mr. Asiamah expressed gratitude to the Gambia for the gesture adding that government is committed to ensuring that the RMU becomes a world class university in the Maritime sector.