Basse — A handful of security personnel drawn from various security units in the Upper River Region Tuesday began a two-week training course on basic information, communication and technology skills in Basse. The initiative, spearheaded by the Association of Information Technology Association of the Gambia Basse-chapter (ITAG), is meant to enhance the ICT skills of the security personnel within the URR for productivity in work.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the coordinator of the Gambia Telecommunication and Multi-media Institute (GTMI) in Basse, Ismaila Drammeh, who doubles as the chairman of Board of Trustees of the Association, stressed the importance of the training. Describing the forum as timely, Drammeh challenged the participants to take up the training with utmost seriousness given that it will go a long way in enhancing their ICT skills.

Speaking earlier, a deputy police commissioner in URR, Kemeta Sambou, commended ITAG for providing such a significant training to the members of the security services. He urged the participants to live up to expectation and to ensure that the primary objectives of the training are achieved. Sambou harped on the importance of ICT in the day-to-day operations of the security forces, noting that a training of this nature would in no small measure go a long way in enhancing service delivery.

For his part, the corporate affairs officer of ITAG, Kawsu Sillah commended the participants for taking part in the training, and urged them to make best use of the opportunities provided for them. He disclosed that the objective of the training, among other things, is also to motivate the security personnel in their effort to maintain peace and stability in the country. "This training is timely in view of the fact that we are now in the world of technology. We are hopeful that at the end of the two-week training, the participants will be able to utilise the knowledge gained," he added.

He informed the gathering that ITAG is a charitable organisation that was established in 2004 with the ultimate aim of promoting the use and development of ICT in the country. Since inception, he added, the Association has been rendering remarkable service in the area of capacity building in ICT.